Uber and Lyft are two of the most popular ride-sharing services in the U.S. They're also becoming great money-making opportunities for drivers. Uber and Lyft offer flexible schedules, decent pay, and a chance to meet new people daily.
They're independent contractors, but unlike many other freelancers, they are responsible for their expenses. In addition to gas and wear and tear on their vehicles, drivers must pay for their insurance. The job is not without risks either; Uber and Lyft do not protect in case of an accident or injury while driving passengers around town. The result is that many drivers feel like they need to take extra precautions when accepting rides, and that can lead to some scams. But there are some scams that Uber and Lyft drivers face that you should know about before signing up for either service.
First off, if you one of these scams has gotten you deactivated by Uber or Lyft, Driverly can assist you in your journey towards reactivation. They help you with the process of gig driver reactivation. You can always signup for a Driverly account. Being a Driverly member gives you access to driver discounts, exclusive content, new driver education, and they will help you if you've been deactivated. Signup for a Driverly membership here.
What Are The Most Common Scams Used On Uber And Lyft Drivers?
When it comes to driving for Uber and Lyft, a lot of passengers can be annoying. But some passengers are downright fraudulent. Here are the most common scams that drivers have reported:
1. Phone calls from Support
Uber and Lyft have had problems with scammers calling their drivers and claiming to be from the company's support team. The caller may identify as "Peter," or another common name, saying, "We've been getting a lot of complaints about you." They'll then ask for your login information to see the complaints usually made up and ask for money in return for fixing the problem.
2. The fake prize
This scam involves someone claiming to be an Uber representative who offers a prize if you send them money via PayPal, Venmo, or another online payment service. Drivers have reported getting messages from people claiming they won $500 in Uber credits if they send money as part of the process to claim the prize. While there are legitimate promotions in which drivers can win prizes, these are not legitimate because there's no way for anyone but you to know how much money you've made driving for Uber or Lyft unless you tell them yourself.
3. Cancelling Mid-Ride
This is one of the most common scams used by Uber and Lyft drivers. It happens almost every day! Passengers will typically cancel their ride after being picked up or just before arriving at their destination in order to avoid paying for the ride. This is a fairly easy scam for the passenger because they can simply cancel the ride inside their app without having to call or text the driver directly.
4. Taking someone else’s ride
Passengers sometimes try to take someone else’s ride by booking their trip on the same route. It’s easy for scammers to do this because most drivers don’t check to see if the name on the app matches their profile photo and name tag. They also don’t always double-check that the rider has a legitimate account before accepting the request. The result is that they end up taking someone else’s trip without paying for it!
5. Additional passengers
Passengers sometimes sneak an extra person into your car without paying first. Sometimes this is innocent and just a way for them to share the cost of their trip. But often, it's a ploy to get more people into your car than should be there so they can split the fare with everyone, leaving you with less money.
6. Asking to be dropped off at a different location
The passenger says they don't know where they're going and ask to be dropped off at another place to get out of paying for the ride. This can be very frustrating because it messes up your route and causes you to miss out on potential fares.
7. The Wrong Destination
When you’re driving for Uber or Lyft, you’re going to get a lot of requests for rides that ultimately lead to destinations that aren’t where the passenger is headed. This can happen in a few different ways, but it’s often due to the rider not being sure where they want to go or they are intentionally trying to get a free ride.
Why did Uber ask for a selfie?
If you thought you could get away with wearing a mask while requesting an Uber, think again. The company has begun implementing a new anti-fraud measure that asks customers to verify that they are wearing a mask or face covering. In an announcement on its website, the ridesharing service explained the reasoning behind this new step in the process: "A rider who uses Uber is more than just a name and credit card. We want to make sure of who's behind the account, just like we do when we use other forms of identification in other situations."
This new security feature builds on existing safety measures implemented after several fraudulent incidents involving drivers and riders. For example, all drivers undergo background checks before they're allowed to work with Uber, and riders can choose to add a credit card to their account for extra security.
How do Uber and Lyft decide which driver gets the ride?
Uber and Lyft are two of the most popular ride-hailing services worldwide.
Both companies use algorithms to match passengers with drivers, but there's one major difference: Uber uses "batch matching" while Lyft pairs riders with drivers who will arrive the soonest.
Batch Matching
Uber's algorithm groups multiple requests into batches and then matches them with available drivers. For example, if there are 20 requests from point A to point B simultaneously, Uber will group all 20 requests and route them to one driver. The algorithm also ensures that people aren't waiting too long for a car; if someone has been waiting for more than five minutes, they'll get routed elsewhere.
Lyft Pairs Riders With Drivers Who Will Arrive Soonest
Lyft's system is simpler: when you request a ride on Lyft, it checks its database of nearby drivers and matches you up with whoever can get there quickest without having to go out of their way too much. If you're in a hurry and need a ride immediately, this can be faster than batch matching because it doesn't require connecting multiple requests before sending them off to different drivers.
Conclusion
The takeaway from this list is that Uber and Lyft drivers need to watch their backs. Many people will try to take advantage of them, whether by an untrustworthy passenger or a scammer pretending to be an app customer support rep. By recognizing these scams and warning new or prospective drivers about them, you can help your fellow drivers stay safe on the road. And if someone tries to trick you into handing over your account information? Call customer support and let them know
Comments