Don’t Be A Victim Of Uber Vomit Fraud This Holiday Season
You may have never heard of it, but uber vomit fraud is a real thing.
Uber Vomit Fraud Isn't New
Uber vomit fraud has apparently been around for a number of years - and it's something holiday travelers should be aware of in the coming days and weeks.
9 News reported the story recently of a Colorado couple, Brian and Jaeda Johnson who were victimized by such a scam after using an Uber ride.
Bogus Charges On the Bill
Jaeda says the day following her Uber ride, she received a receipt for a $150 charge - with no explanation. After some investigation and contact with Uber, they learned the uber driver alleged that Jaeda had thrown up in the backseat of his car - and he added a $150 clean-up charge to her bill. Jaeda says she absolutely did not throw up, and did not notice any sort of mess when she got into the vehicle.
Fake Photo Submitted As Evidence
Here's where it gets interesting. The driver even uploaded evidence - a photo of the mess. The only problem - the photo was a fake. Brian Johnson uploaded the image to Google and did a search. Surprisingly, he discovered the same exact image popping up multiple times in his internet search. The driver had simply downloaded an old image to submit as "evidence" to try and validate the additional $150 charge on Jaeda's bill.
Ultimately, Uber removed the charge from the Johnson's bill and said they were taking appropriate action - including removing the driver from the app.
It Works Both Ways
Most Uber drivers are probably honest and trustworthy, but there's always going to be a snake in the grass trying to prey on some unsuspecting victim. I'm sure it works the other way as well - riders who do vomit but then deny responsibility.
If you are using a third-party driver this holiday season, you likely won't have problems. However, it's probably a good idea to take a picture of the inside of the uber vehicle before and after the ride -- just in case.