SEATTLE — Seattle police are looking for a fake rideshare driver who allegedly picked a woman up in Pioneer Square last week.
According to police, the 25-year-old victim ordered an Uber outside a bar on Oct. 10. When a vehicle arrived, she opened the door and asked the driver if the vehicle was for her, SPD said.
The driver said the vehicle was for her, but the victim didn’t verify the license plate or driver’s name before getting in, SPD said.
According to police, the woman was on I-5 heading south toward Kent when she realized something was wrong.
She told police the driver was using Google Maps instead of the Uber app and missed her exit. She then reportedly got a notification from Uber that her ride was canceled.
Police said she ran out of the car at a red light. Her friends reportedly found her nearby, scared but unharmed.
“It’s pretty scary,” Takele Gobena said. “Very scary story.”
Gobena is the president of the Washington Drivers Union. He told KIRO 7 that multiple members have reached out to him about the situation.
He said what happened highlights the risks to both passengers and drivers when meeting strangers off the internet.
“A lot of drivers who do this for a living, this kind of story is very scary for them as well,” Gobena said. “Obviously, we want all passengers to get home safely at the end of the day.”
Uber told KIRO 7 it is deeply committed to passenger safety and highlighted a number of safety features in the app, including an emergency button, GPS tracker and a Follow My Ride feature that allows passengers to share their location with trusted contacts.
Both Uber and Seattle police stressed the importance of verifying that the license plate of the car you are about to get into matches the one in the app and that the driver knows your name.
“I know some of the apps let you choose if you want a female driver,” said Christy Le, who avoids using rideshare apps. “I usually feel safer if I have one.”
Le told KIRO 7 she prefers to drive herself, but is as cautious as possible when using a rideshare app. Even then, she sees how mistakes can happen.
“I think it’s really easy, especially when you’re leaving a bar at night and you’ve had a couple of drinks and are by yourself, to hop in the wrong one,” she said.
SPD reports cameras in the area were not working, so there is no footage of the suspect. He is described as driving a white four-door sedan and is between the ages of 30-50.
If you have any information, contact SPD’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
Uber Safety Tips from Seattle Police
1. Wait for your ride in a safe, well-lit location and try to ride with a friend.
Booking a ride home from a night out is a responsible thing to do. But waiting alone outside at night can be dangerous. Try to book your ride while you’re still inside and ride with a friend if possible.
2. Always verify the driver’s name and license plate.
Make sure the vehicle matches the one that you’ve booked. Always verify the license plate on the vehicle with the license plate in the app and if possible, confirm the driver’s name and photo as well.
3. Have the driver confirm who they are picking up.
Before getting in the vehicle, ask the driver who they are here to pick up. Instead of asking the driver, “Are you here for ____?” ask them, “Who are you here for?” This gives the driver a chance to verify that they have your information without you providing them with it.
4. Sit in the backseat and check the locks.
Sitting in the backseat gives you a safe distance from the driver and allows you to use your phone if you need. This also gives you a chance to check the child locks on the door and ensure that you can leave the vehicle at any time, on either side of the vehicle.
5. Share your ride details with friends.
Before getting in the vehicle, share with a friend the details of the trip. Key details to share are where you’re leaving from, the type of rideshare you’re using, the license plate and vehicle description, and your estimated time of arrival. Make sure to update your friend if anything changes with the ride.
An example text would be:
“I’m in my Uber heading home from the bar. It’s a light blue Prius and the license plate is ABC1234. The app says I’ll get home at 1:15am. I’ll text you when I get there.”
6. Know where you’re going and look out the windows.
If you’re headed home and you start to notice that you’re going a different direction, or you don’t recognize the area, take note of that and look for street signs or landmarks.
7. Trust your instincts.
Booking a rideshare can be the responsible thing to do after a night out, but listening to your instincts when something feels off is important. If you notice something is odd about the trip or the vehicle, take note of that and text a friend.
8. Call or text 911 if you feel in danger.
If you feel like you are in danger, you can call 911 and speak to a call taker. If you don’t know where you are, tell the call taker what you see out of the window, where you were supposed to be going, and where you left from. If you feel like you can’t talk out loud, you can always text 911.