Commuter experiences Uber fare scam in Delhi, warns others to verify payments

Despite the absence of traffic delays or additional stops during the trip, the driver attributed the increased fare to "wait charges."

By: Trends Desk

New Delhi | March 27, 2024 03:23 PM IST

3 min read

The post on Reddit has garnered over 600 views within a few hours.

A recent incident involving a commuter booking an Uber ride from Indira Gandhi International Airport has sparked concerns over fare transparency and raised awareness about potential fraudulent practices by drivers. On the night of March 24, around 10:30 pm, the commuter booked an Uber Go ride through the app, which initially displayed a fare of approximately ₹340.

Sharing his experience on the Reddit platform, he wrote that upon reaching the destination, the driver demanded ₹648, nearly double the amount shown during booking. The commuter, taken aback by the discrepancy, requested to see the payment screen on the driver’s app for verification. Despite the absence of traffic delays or additional stops during the trip, the driver attributed the increased fare to “wait charges.”

Without causing a scene, the commuter insisted on seeing the payment screen, eventually convincing the driver to comply. Upon closer inspection, the commuter noticed several irregularities in the screenshot provided by the driver. The spelling of the commuter’s name was incorrect, with an “r” instead of an “n.” Two Uber floating icons were visible on the screen, indicating potential tampering.

Suspecting foul play, the commuter accessed the Uber app directly, which revealed a fare of ₹127.48 for the trip, significantly lower than the amount demanded by the driver. Contacting Uber support, the commuter reported the discrepancy, only to be informed that the driver had reported collecting ₹127.48, contrary to the amount demanded.

Read it here.

Following intervention, the commuter received a refund of ₹127.08, highlighting a shortfall in the reimbursement. The commuter attributes the discrepancy to a potential use of a spoof app by the driver to manipulate payment information. Additionally, the driver’s attempts to engage in distracting conversation during the trip further raised suspicions about their intentions.

In conclusion, the commuter urges fellow travelers to exercise vigilance and refrain from paying any additional amount beyond what is shown on the app. The incident underscores the need for enhanced awareness and precautions when using ride-sharing services, especially during late-night travels.

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Many users shared their own experiences in the comment section where one wrote, “Quite unfortunate.That’s the reason I use ONLY the online payment method(UPI). I get the pop-up; there is no need to pay immediately; I can do it even days later or till I need to book another cab.” Another user added, “Ahhh I get it, that way they could easily scam people with fake screens , we people really need to be aware of this scam and always wiggle around the screen to check the authenticity.” And a third went on to say, “I would recommend filing a case with consumer court app (NCH) and make this drivers car number, name etc public on social media along with all these screenshots. He might be scamming lots of people daily.”

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