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Sophie Worsnop-Hair says she was focused thrice within the area of 100 metres by pretend rideshare drivers in Melbourne one evening.
Key factors:
- A number of ladies declare imposter rideshare drivers have harassed them
- Police proceed to analyze a sexual assault case involving an alleged pretend rideshare driver in Prahran
- Uber and police urge riders to confirm driver particulars earlier than getting in a automotive
After grabbing a chew to eat on Sunday evening, the bar supervisor stated she was strolling alone again to work in Little Bourke Road in Melbourne’s CBD when males in three separate automobiles pulled as much as her, claiming to be her Uber driver.
The one drawback was Ms Worsnop-Hair by no means ordered one.
The 24-year-old stated she prevented the primary by pretending to be on the cellphone.
She grew to become extra involved when a second driver stopped and insisted she get inside.
“He was getting aggressive and I needed to stroll away from him as nicely, he adopted me for a bit after which left,” Ms Worsnop-Hair stated.
She continued strolling, however then a 3rd automotive stopped. This time, the motive force wouldn’t take no for a solution.
“He grew to become fairly violent in the direction of me, yelling at me,” she stated.
“He stated ‘Get within the automotive’ time and again, and it wasn’t till I needed to threaten him with reporting him to the police that he left me alone.”
Ms Worsnop-Hair stated the road was quiet on the time, and believed it was not a misunderstanding or potential mistaken identification.
Others focused by ‘imposter’ drivers
Photo:
Police urge passengers to report rideshare frauds to authorities. (ABC News: Mitch Woolnough)
It comes after a 27-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a person pretending to be an Uber driver on Chapel Road in Prahran, after she received into his automotive early on September 1.
Victoria Police stated investigations had been ongoing.
Final week, a person utilizing the registration of one other Uber driver was jailed for at the very least three years and 4 months after pleading responsible to raping a passenger he picked up in Richmond final 12 months.
Ms Worsnop-Hair made a police report and shared her story on social media on Sunday evening.
She remained shaken by the incident, and has been inundated by messages from others round Melbourne who declare to have had related experiences with imposter rideshare drivers.
The ABC has spoken to greater than 5 different individuals, who declare they had been approached by pretend rideshare drivers.
One claimed she was accosted outdoors a Brunswick grocery store in the midst of the day.
Twenty-five-year-old Matt, who didn’t need his final identify revealed, stated he mistakenly received right into a automotive final 12 months, considering it was the Uber he ordered.
Matt stated he was intoxicated and the motive force stole his cellphone when he fell asleep.
“I known as Uber they stated there was no historical past of the journey. He wasn’t my driver in any respect,” he stated.
‘Black market’ of rideshare accounts rising
The secretary of the Trip Share Drivers’ Affiliation of Australia, Les Johnson, stated it was arduous to evaluate how large the issue of unauthorised drivers was.
“I can guarantee you it is one thing that is taking place throughout the board,” he stated.
“They don’t have any accreditation, they don’t have any insurance coverage. It truly is a nightmare.”
Mr Johnson stated a “black market” amongst Uber drivers was growing, the place some had been promoting their accounts to individuals who bypassed photograph verification checks within the app by holding up a chunk of paper with a photograph.
In a press release, Victoria Police stated they had been working carefully with rideshare companies and had been methods to fight the rising crime.
“We encourage individuals to make sure they examine the car and driver earlier than getting within the car, and if they’ve any issues or suspicions to say no the journey,” a police spokeswoman stated.
She urged any passengers involved about fraudulent exercise to contact the rideshare firm and to make a police report.
Uber urges riders to examine app particulars
An Uber spokeswoman stated the corporate had launched a number of security measures, together with GPS monitoring, detailed journey data for passengers, and background checks for drivers.
“These advances in security are necessary — however for them to be efficient it’s good to be in the appropriate automotive,” she stated.
“It is best to by no means get in a automotive with a driver who claims to be with Uber however would not match what’s in your app.”
RMIT College criminologist Marietta Martinovic stated the incidents served as a “wake-up name” for ridesharing companies.
“Though it’s a actually small share of those rides that go horribly flawed, imposters go round nightspots the place persons are weak,” Dr Martinovic stated.
Dr Martinovic acknowledged that the ridesharing companies weren’t at fault for pretend drivers, however known as on them to enhance security measures to cut back additional incidents.
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