“Another PSA about Uber App”

“Dear PoPville,

On Saturday night I was out with a friend in Logan Circle when I used the Uber app to select an UberX to come take me home around 10:20 PM. I was connected with a driver pretty quickly, but she messaged me in the app saying that the map would not show her moving until I gave her my phone number–that there was “an update to the app.” I had recently read about some other sketchiness in Uber on PoPville, so I didn’t respond as I was chatting with my friend about how I thought it was a scam.

The driver canceled the ride within about 2 mins, and I was connected immediately with another driver. My only regret was not grabbing a screen capture, ugh! I told the real driver about my issue and as soon as I got home I waited on hold on Uber’s safety line for 15 minutes before I spoke to a representative who took all of the information I could provide and said someone would be in touch. I only cared at that point that the scammer was still out there trying to lure other people into giving up their personal info.

Here is actually where it gets sketchier: Uber contacted me to say they had no record of this alleged conversation in the app! “Cannot find the associated trip.” I have been arguing with them in the app and through their support on Twitter as they are trying to make me select the trip (ok) but then select the reason (dudette was trying to steal my info) and of course that’s not an option. And this is after I explained it three times–once over the phone, then over the app, then in direct messaging on Twitter.

My hunch now is that hackers can hijack the app and temporarily redirect you to a ghost site where they ask you this stuff without a record of the conversations in the real app to try to steal your info and then you look like a crazy person to Uber. Beware, PoPville! Obviously, don’t share your personal info even in the app.”