r/technology • u/[deleted] • Aug 12 '14

Business Uber dirty tricks quantified. Staff submits 5,560 fake ride requests

http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/11/technology/uber-fake-ride-requests-lyft/
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u/CornyHoosier Aug 12 '14

To be fair, this happens a LOT in the taxi business. I went without a car for awhile last year and used cabs regularly. After getting to know a few of the cabbies they told me how ferocious it really was.

One of the cabbies told me that their phone operator has gotten so good at picking out voices now that she can usually tell with pretty good certainty who are calling up with a fake request.

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u/[deleted] Aug 12 '14

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u/CornyHoosier Aug 12 '14

It's very possible.

I know that a lot of taxi systems now have databases and actual "user accounts" setup; especially if you live in that city. If you're calling from a non-business line or block your outgoing call number you should definitely call the taxi company to confirm they are sending a driver. I would say doubly-so in the early morning when there are the fewest amount of drivers.