Greg's Corner

Rideshare driver thwarts grandparent scam

By Greg Collier

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the routine of driving for rideshare services. But for a Lyft driver based in North Carolina, one particular ride turned into a harrowing experience that shed light on a pervasive scam targeting older adults, the grandparent scam.

The driver received a request to pick up a woman, who claimed to be picking up important paperwork from a home in Pamlico County. Little did the driver know, she was about to be unwittingly drawn into a scheme that preys on the vulnerability of older individuals.

Upon arriving at the passenger’s home, the driver encountered a 79-year-old man who seemed distressed and shaky as he attempted to count out a substantial sum of cash. His story unfolded as the driver listened in disbelief. Earlier that day, the man had received a call from someone claiming to be his grandson, alleging he was in trouble and needed bail money. The caller claimed to have suffered a broken nose, stitches in his lip, and a broken leg from a car crash. Additionally, authorities discovered an open bottle of alcohol in his vehicle.

Believing the voice on the other end of the line, the grandfather rushed to withdraw $6,500 from his bank, which he entrusted to the driver to deliver to the supposed authorities.

As the driver embarked on their journey, a series of red flags began to unfurl. The woman’s insistence on tracking her movements, coupled with the urgency of the situation, raised suspicions in the driver’s mind. Sensing something amiss, they made the courageous decision to intervene, reaching out to the man’s actual grandson, who revealed he was safe and sound, far from any jail cell.

What the driver uncovered was a classic case of the grandparent scam, a nefarious ploy that preys on the love and concern of grandparents for their grandchildren. The perpetrators, armed with personal information gleaned from social media and sophisticated technology, exploit the trusting nature of their victims, leaving devastation in their wake.

Despite their misgivings, the driver bravely stepped forward, urging the rideshare service to take proactive measures to educate drivers about the signs of potential scams and provide support in navigating such situations.

This incident further highlights the danger often faced by rideshare drivers at the hands of scammers. Just last month, an 81-year-old man from Ohio tragically shot and killed an innocent Uber driver, mistakenly believing the driver was involved in a grandparent scam. In similar scenarios, other unsuspecting rideshare drivers have been confronted by law enforcement officers who mistakenly assumed the drivers were the perpetrators, especially after they had picked up money from the scam victims.

The experiences of drivers like the North Carolina driver underscore the urgent need for rideshare services to take proactive measures in recognizing and addressing scams. As vital members of their communities, rideshare drivers often find themselves on the front lines of these schemes, unwittingly entangled in fraudulent activities. By implementing robust training programs, providing real-time support, and fostering open communication channels, rideshare companies can empower their drivers to identify and respond effectively to suspicious situations.