Uber Say My Name Scam: How to Keep Yourself Safe
Cindy Ellis - February 13, 2024
Ride-share services like Uber, Lyft, and other apps have made it easy for people to make money or get a ride. Unfortunately, scams have also become common in the industry because it can be easy to pretend you’re someone from the company or fool someone into giving you information.
One scam that has been appearing recently is the “Say My Name Scam,” which has been circulating around for the last few months.
While Uber text scams used to be common, scammers have evolved to use techniques in the real world to scam drivers out of money. Read on to learn more about one of the latest ride-share scams.
What Is the Uber Say My Name Scam?
The Uber Say My Name scam is like other scams that involve saying someone’s name in the ride-share industry. Ultimately, the purpose of the scam is to get a free ride by using someone’s identity.
It often steals the ride from another user or takes away a paycheck from the driver because the person who was supposed to be in the car cancels the ride. This has become common because it’s an easy way for people to hitch a free ride without getting into any trouble.
How Did the Uber Say My Name Scam Originate?
The Say My Name scam was born when drivers from ride-share apps were instructed to ask for the name of a passenger before they got into the vehicle.
Originally, it was a policy put in place to protect drivers and passengers due to social media and media outrage that burst out when Samantha Josephson was killed. The policy change occurred because a young woman, who was only 21, got into a vehicle that she thought was an Uber.
How Does the Uber Say My Name Scam Work?
Say my name scams are simple and don’t require any online hacking or information stealing. In fact, it’s as simple as conversing with the driver. It’s for this reason that the scam has become popular, so it’s important to learn about how to protect yourself by understanding how it works from start to finish. Learn more below.
- Someone who is not a passenger for an Uber or Lyft ride will wait in a popular area for Uber to arrive.
- The driver will roll down the window and ask for their name. Instead of providing the name, the scammer acts worried and asks the driver to say their name.
- When the driver says the name of the person they’re picking up, the scammer will confirm that it’s their name.
- This prompts the driver to invite the scammer into their vehicle, and from there, the scammer can direct them to a destination.
- The passenger who ordered the ride will eventually cancel it or ask for a refund, and the driver will lose money.
The scam is effective because it all happens fast and tricks the driver.
How to Avoid the Uber Say My Name Scam
Uber Say My Name scams are dangerous and can cost you time and money. Fortunately, there are some simple methods you can use to get around this scam. Learn about some of our tips to avoid this popular scam below:
- Don’t tell a passenger who you’re picking up until they state their name.
- Don’t give out personal details to anyone who enters your vehicle.
- Check to see if the name of the person matches their appearance; for example, girls won’t usually be named Thomas. Be careful with this, though, especially if everything else on their profile matches the person in front of you.
- When speaking with someone outside your vehicle, keep the window rolled halfway down and the doors locked.
Following these tips will protect you from the Uber Say My Name scam.
Protect Yourself When Using Uber
The Uber Say My Name scam impacts Uber drivers and people who drive for other ride-share platforms. To stay safe out there, always verify the identity of the person who’s entering your vehicle, especially if they don’t appear to be the same person in the picture. There’s no harm in waiting a few minutes to make sure you’re safe and get paid.
While Say My Name scams impact drivers the most, as a passenger, you can also protect yourself before getting into an Uber. When you have a driver, run their name through our people search engines to run a quick background check on them. This can reveal their criminal records and other information you want to know before getting in the vehicle.
