In Chicago we have criminals targeting Uber/Lyft drivers & also riders with scams.:
https://cwbchicago.com/2025/07/fake-rideshare-driver-is-sexually-women-in-gold-coast-near-north-side-cpd.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2025/03/late-night-bar-goers-are-getting-robbed-while-waiting-for-lyft-uber-in-wrigleyville-gold-coast.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2023/11/man-gets-7-years-for-stealing-identities-by-posing-as-a-ride-share-driver-outside-chicago-nightclubs.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2023/03/paroled-identity-thief-arrested-again-operating-as-a-fake-uber-driver-in-river-north.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2022/06/fake-uber-driver-gets-45-years-for-raping-woman-he-lured-in-to-car-similar-cases-involving-4-other-women-are-pending.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2021/12/another-fake-uber-identity-thief-heads-to-prison-but-only-until-august.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2021/11/cops-found-credit-cards-belonging-to-32-people-in-fake-uber-drivers-car-authorities-say.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2021/10/fake-uber-driver-robs-man-at-gunpoint-in-old-town-police-say.html
https://cwbchicago.com/2021/04/man-on-parole-for-running-phony-uber-scam-is-charged-with-running-a-phony-uber-scam-again.html
https://patch.com/illinois/hinsdale/amazon-uber-scam-calls-dui-hinsdale-cops
Here's a few tips to avoid being scammed as a rider by criminals:
- 1) ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS check that the license plate, car make & model, and driver photo on your rider app match who & what is picking you up. You need to confirm your name to your driver & your driver needs to confirm their name to you too. Uber's website even says to do so. If it doesn't match, call 911 & report it to Uber IMMEDIATELY.
- 2) NEVER NEVER NEVER give a driver your credit/debit card. EVERYTHING must be done ON THE APP (pick-up & drop-off locations, additional stops, payment, etc). If a driver asks to have anything off the app, exit the vehicle immediately & call 911. Once you're in a safe location, report it to Uber.
***Side note: A LOT of riders are confused about Uber/Lyft. Uber & Lyft are NOT taxis that can drive around anywhere & everywhere. Drivers are ONLY authorized to take passengers from pick-up to drop-off that is listed in the app. Any stop in between ALSO has to be ON THE APP. Asking a driver to make a stop that's not on the app makes them feel extremely uncomfortable & unsafe; and we are not covered by insurance if we get into an accident on the way to an unauthorized stop. So if you want additional stops add them on the app.***
- 3) Female riders, if you ever feel uncomfortable about your driver, especially if it's late night, here are three tiktok videos you can play loudly on your phone & interact with to pretend that you're talking to a "husband," "dad," or "female friend" & that they know you're in an Uber/Lyft & will be home soon. It may help you feel a little safer.
