A popular ride-hailing app has taken action against users who have been requesting fake rides and then canceling them after a driver has accepted the request.
In response to this trend, the company has limited intercountry ride requests, especially focusing on users in Nigeria and South Africa.
Individuals on social media have shared instances of this behavior where users from one country would request a ride in another country and then cancel it once the driver had accepted.
The country manager for Nigeria expressed the company’s commitment to ensuring a safe and reliable experience for all community members affected by this issue.
This trend seems to have originated from a rivalry between users in South Africa and Nigeria, leading to a series of fake ride requests and cancellations.
The motive behind these fake ride requests remains unclear, but it raises concerns about the misuse of intercountry ride requests by malicious actors.
Drivers have expressed frustration over wasted fuel and time due to these fake ride requests, with some refusing long-distance trips until the situation is resolved.
As the company does not compensate drivers for fuel spent on canceled rides, many are calling for a solution to address this issue.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to provide more insight into the trend and include a statement from a ride-hailing driver in Lagos.