Fake Uber driver may be fined, jailed, says LTA
With news of a family paying S$97 for a ride on a purported Uber taxi being spread widely online, Uber has come out to clarify that the motorist in question is not a registered driver. This shows the alleged vehicle whose driver claimed he was registered with Uber. Photo: Screengrab from Joverst Lee's Facebook page
SINGAPORE — A 29-year-old man is assisting in police investigations in relation to reports of a scam run by an individual posing as a driver with ride-booking service Uber.
The vehicle in question was also impounded yesterday (March 2), said the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
Since Sunday, Mr Joverst Lee’s account of being duped by a person driving a silver Honda Airwave bearing licence plate SJT1444Y has been making the rounds online.
Mr Lee, who was waiting with his family for a taxi around Beach Road, boarded the car after the driver claimed to be from Uber. He ended up paying S$97 by the time he was dropped off in Yio Chu Kang.
The following night, Uber issued an alert informing its users that the car was not registered with the company and urged anyone who had contact with the vehicle to go to the police.
A spokesperson told TODAY the incident was a first and that the firm has received a “handful” of complaints about the same vehicle since last week.
“A few members of our rider community alerted (us) to instances where they were trying to hail a taxi on the street and this individual stopped and tried to offer his services illegally,” he added.
Today, it emerged that, since Feb 18, others had also been duped. The police said a report of criminal breach of trust, pertaining to the same scam, was made that day at Unity Street and that a 29-year-old man is assisting with investigations.
Responding to queries, an LTA spokesperson said it takes a serious view of the incidents. “If found to have contravened the Road Traffic Act, which disallows private vehicles from being used for hire and award, the offender may face possible fines, imprisonment and forfeiture of the vehicle,” she added.
Third-party taxi-booking app companies, including Easy Taxi and GrabTaxi, said they have not seen similar incidents with their users.
Recounting what transpired that day, Mr Lee’s wife Cassandra Ang said they were told the starting meter fare was S$3.90, with 70 cents to be charged for every kilometre.
“I saw him taking out his iPhone and starting a meter fare using an app,” said the 22-year-old accounts assistant.
Midway to their destination in Woodlands, they saw that the fare had jumped to about S$50 and asked to alight.
When the driver dropped them off in Yio Chu Kang, he asked for S$97 and changed his tune to say each kilometre costs S$8.
Ms Ang added: “We don’t know what he would have done to us if we didn’t pay and we had two kids with us, so we just paid.”
