$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
phantom ride charge scam
A rider's account is charged for a ride that never took place — either through account compromise or a driver fraudulently starting and completing a trip without the passenger.
“Uber scam”
↑ 138%Key indicators
Usually targetsRideshare users
Often hitsDrivers and gig workers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
A driver accepts a ride request from a compromised account and completes a short trip to collect the fare without any passenger.
2
Alternatively, an attacker who gained access to a rider's account books and completes rides on their payment method.
3
The victim may not notice the charges immediately, especially if they are small amounts mixed with legitimate rides.
What to do first
Review your rideshare ride history regularly and dispute any trips you do not recognize.
Related terms
ghost ride chargefake trip scamrideshare phantom billingRideshare scamsAppRisingRideshare usersTravelersUrban commutersDrivers and gig workersTravelersUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomghost ride chargefake trip scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Wei, 35, a rideshare users, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate rideshare scams situation while using App. A driver accepts a ride request from a compromised account and completes a short trip to collect the fare without any passenger.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Alternatively, an attacker who gained access to a rider's account books and completes rides on their payment method.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The victim may not notice the charges immediately, especially if they are small amounts mixed with legitimate rides.
The outcome
Wei realized something was wrong when a charge appears for a ride at a time or location where you were not using the service. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Review your rideshare ride history regularly and dispute any trips you do not recognize. Wei's experience shows why a charge appears for a ride at a time or location where you were not using the service and the ride route on the receipt does not match anywhere you have been are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- A charge appears for a ride at a time or location where you were not using the service
- The ride route on the receipt does not match anywhere you have been
- Multiple small charges appear on your account from unfamiliar cities
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Review your rideshare ride history regularly and dispute any trips you do not recognize.
- ✓Enable two-factor authentication on your rideshare accounts.
- ✓If your account appears compromised, change your password immediately and contact the platform's support.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Uber and Lyft both acknowledge account-related fraud in their safety reports and recommend enabling two-factor authentication as a protective measure.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Review your rideshare ride history regularly and dispute any trips you do not recognize.
- ✓Enable two-factor authentication on your rideshare accounts.
- ✓If your account appears compromised, change your password immediately and contact the platform's support.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Uber and Lyft both acknowledge account-related fraud in their safety reports and recommend enabling two-factor authentication as a protective measure.
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Rideshare users, Travelers, Urban commuters, Airport travelers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
App — Rideshare scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Rideshare users are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Uber and Lyft both acknowledge account-related fraud in their safety reports and recommend enabling two-factor authentication as a protective measure.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about phantom ride charge scam
How does the phantom ride charge scam work?+
A driver accepts a ride request from a compromised account and completes a short trip to collect the fare without any passenger. Alternatively, an attacker who gained access to a rider's account books and completes rides on their payment method. The victim may not notice the charges immediately, especially if they are small amounts mixed with legitimate rides.
What are the warning signs of phantom ride charge scam?+
A charge appears for a ride at a time or location where you were not using the service The ride route on the receipt does not match anywhere you have been Multiple small charges appear on your account from unfamiliar cities
What should I do if I encounter phantom ride charge scam?+
Review your rideshare ride history regularly and dispute any trips you do not recognize. Enable two-factor authentication on your rideshare accounts. If your account appears compromised, change your password immediately and contact the platform's support.
Who is most at risk for phantom ride charge scam?+
This scam primarily targets Rideshare users, Travelers, Urban commuters, Airport travelers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on App.
Is phantom ride charge scam on the rise?+
phantom ride charge scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
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