An unverified video of the story of a young man who says he almost got killed by an Uber driver and his accomplice, a second man who was hiding at the back of the car, has gone viral on social media especially WhatsApp.
He warns Uber riders to be very vigilant and “extra” careful in the two (2) minutes video as he narrated the entire ordeal.
Attacks on Uber riders is gradually becoming a thing especially in the wake of the kidnapping of three girls in Takoradi who are yet to be rescued by the police.
It is worthy to note that in the US where Uber has its headquarters, stories of riders being attacked is rampant and the sad part is Uber does not have an instant reporting system in place except this website which has a form for reporting riders and drivers who misbehave.
In the case of any emergency, you may be harmed before Uber gets to know you even exist so you have to be very careful and don’t be shy or afraid to ask questions of your driver and even decline the ride if you find anything suspicious.
In case of emergency
A 2018 article on TheZebra.com attempts to deal with the issue of creepy and outright criminals who try to take advantage of lapses in Uber’s system and gives these four (4) ways to escape.
- Verify the nitty-gritty of your ride, as in make sure the ride is what shows on your Uber app and the driver is the same person. If you are unsure, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Get a taxi or request a new ride.
- Know and share your route with family and friends
- Fake a number when a driver acting suspicious asks for it
- Don’t put all your trust in ratings. Be vigilant and act fast when you see anything suspicious.
