From ABC 7

There’s a warning tonight to watch out for fake Uber drivers.  One customer learned it the hard way after finding himself in an unsettling situation.  In tonight’s ABC7 Extra, we take a look at what happened and how to protect yourself.
Uber is a ride sharing service.  The company uses a smartphone app to connect passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire.  But, instances of Uber impostors are becoming all too common.

“He said, ‘I’m your Uber driver. Are you Josh?'” said rider Josh Vandenburg.

Josh Vandenburg says that was the question that disarmed him.  Vandenburg left his friend at a restaurant in Dallas on a Friday night and used the Uber app on his phone to order a ride home.

“I can tell you there was a line of cars when I walked out.  So it could be very confusing,” said Vandenburg.

But just two minutes on the road, Vandenburg got a call that his Uber driver was waiting for him back at the restaurant.

“I said, ‘well, this is my Uber driver. Who are you?’ He said, “I’m Uber, but you pay me cash,'” said Vandenburg.

Vandenburg knew that wasn’t right.  Uber fares are charged via credit card.

“We got into a shouting match and I removed myself from the situation — got out of the car and walked away,” said Vandenburg.

He’s concerned at what could have happened to someone else.

“First thing I thought of was my wife,” said Vandenburg.

Aware that impostors want to take advantage of Uber’s popularity and poach clients, a spokesperson says it is important that users utilize the safety features built into the app.

“Ask questions.  That’s the simple thing,” said the spokesperson.

Those are steps Vandenburg says he will remember to take next time.  But after a night of fun, they can be easy to miss.
“If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.  It can happen at any point,” said Vandenburg.

Right now, Uber is only available in major cities like Tampa and Miami.  But there are talks of the service coming to Southwest Florida.  Advertisements are popping up on Facebook targeting a need for drivers, if the service expands to the area.

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