By Arkady Petrov
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Tourists and residents of Rio de Janeiro are the targets of a scam at Tom Jobim International Airport, by men posing as Uber drivers, who are called through a messaging App and not by the company. At the Novo Rio Bus Terminal, an illegal service is also offered.
On arrival, an alleged employee turns up. The man introduces himself as a service agent to an investigator, passing himself off as a Spanish tourist. However, the man claims that the passenger does not need to call the car by cell phone, that he would do that himself.
The ride fare is based on the price displayed in the App. However, the passenger does not have the right to choose if he wants the cheapest, shared service, or the executive. Only the most expensive option is available.
The man at the airport says he accepts payment by card. However, according to Uber’s rules, this form of payment is only accepted by cards that have already been registered.
Soon after that, another man approaches the supposed Spanish tourist. So it’s evident: you don’t need an App to call the transport service. When the passenger gives the money directly to the driver, he does not have to pay the company’s fees.
By the end of the conversation, the man admits that it’s all illegal: “He earns money in full on his own, Uber charges 30 percent on a driver. He comes here, near the taxis, there’s no problem”, said the man, who also gains through the scam.
At Rodoviária Novo Rio, drivers say that cell phone jammers have been installed so that passengers cannot ask for transportation through the App and are forced to take the cars that are offered on arrival — the service provided is the most expensive.
“There is a signal jammer here, inside these guys’ little room, to block the cell phone, so the person can’t access Uber to order a taxi. They put it on so they could block Uber. It’s just like a chain blocker. Then they get a cop in there, holding the blocker. They pay someone to do that. For us it’s the best thing there is, it blocks, we go out”, disclosed a driver.
Rodoviária Novo Rio said it is unaware of any cell phone blocker setup.