If you’re a regular user of rideshare apps, you will want to heed this Uber warning ASAP: make sure the car you’re getting into is an actual Uber and is YOUR actual Uber BEFORE you jump in and allow some stranger to drive away with you.
Travel
This Uber warning comes from Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies after a South Carolina student recently got into a car she mistook for her rideshare vehicle and was later found dead.
Samantha Josephson of New Jersey had been out enjoying drinks with friends when she ordered an Uber around 1am. Not long after, a car driven by 25-year-old Nathaniel David Rowland slowed down near her meeting point, so, Josephson simply jumped in the car and assumed she was on her way home.
She wasn’t.
Her body was later discovered in a rural Columbia, South Carolina area and Rowland has since been charged with kidnapping and murder.
Although we don’t hear of many deaths of this nature, mistaking regular vehicles on the street for an expected Uber is very common. In fact, while parking a Grey Toyota rental during a business trip to Cleveland, someone tried to open my back door and hop in — assuming I was their Uber. After parking and speaking with the young Uber rider, he checked his app and realized the car he was expecting was not a Grey Toyota but a Red Volkswagen.
And therein lies the problem.
Most people who use Uber do so after a night of drinking. They’re used to summoning Uber, but never reading the info provided by the app describing the type of car to expect, the license plate number, and the driver’s name. Instead, any car they see slowed or stopped in their waiting vicinity is mistaken for Uber more times than people realize.
That’s not good. In fact, as in the case of Samantha Josephson, it can be deadly.
Although it should go without saying and should be common sense, the Uber warning is to make certain the car you get into is an actual Uber. In fact, since several Uber’s could be waiting at the same location for different customers, make sure the car you get into is YOUR OWN Uber.
Here are a few other tips:
- Wait inside until the app tells you your driver has arrived.
- Always check the app to verify the car type, color, and driver’s name BEFORE you travel.
- BEFORE getting in a car, ask if it is a legitimate Uber.
- BEFORE getting in a car, ask the driver to verify his name AND to say your name.
- If the vehicle info doesn’t match and the driver doesn’t know your name (from his app) DON’T GET IN!
.
Finally, be smart. Taking the time to actually read the driver’s name and car info on the app before getting in a strange car may cost you 5 seconds of your life — however, the alternative could cost you your life.
WHOA..! What an extremely important public service post this is DJ. Thank you!
I do hope readers will take heed.
My first, and only experience with Uber took place during a recent trip to Chicago to visit my sister. She has her own car but uses Uber (or take the train) whenever it’s more convenient to do so (depending on the destination) rather than having to deal with parking frustrations.
One afternoon she ordered an Uber to take us someplace we wanted to go. As customary, she made note of every detail about the car and driver assigned to us so she/we would know what to expect. And trust…..
WE did NOT step one foot near that SUV (there was 3 of us) until WE were sure that indeed THAT was Our vehicle and driver.