$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Uber lost item fee scam
Dishonest drivers falsely report that a passenger left an item in their car, triggering a cleaning or return fee charged to the passenger's account for an item that was never lost.
“Uber scam”
↑ 138%Key indicators
Usually targetsUber riders
Often hitsEducators and students
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
After completing a ride, a dishonest driver submits a claim to Uber stating the passenger left an item or made a mess in the vehicle.
2
Uber's automated system charges the passenger a fee based on the driver's claim and submitted photos.
3
Drivers who run this scam repeatedly target short trips or late-night riders who may not immediately notice the extra charge.
What to do first
Check your Uber receipts after every ride and dispute any unrecognized charges immediately through the app.
Related terms
Uber cleaning fee scamfake lost item chargerideshare false claimRideshare scamsUberRisingUber ridersUrban commutersYoung adultsEducators and studentsDrivers and gig workersOnline shoppersUnited StatesCanadaUnited KingdomUber cleaning fee scamfake lost item charge
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Sofia, 35, a uber riders, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate rideshare scams situation while using Uber. After completing a ride, a dishonest driver submits a claim to Uber stating the passenger left an item or made a mess in the vehicle.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Uber's automated system charges the passenger a fee based on the driver's claim and submitted photos.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Drivers who run this scam repeatedly target short trips or late-night riders who may not immediately notice the extra charge.
The outcome
Sofia realized something was wrong when you receive a charge for a lost item fee or cleaning fee after a trip where nothing was left behind. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Check your Uber receipts after every ride and dispute any unrecognized charges immediately through the app. Sofia's experience shows why you receive a charge for a lost item fee or cleaning fee after a trip where nothing was left behind and the charge appears hours after the trip with no prior communication from the driver are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- You receive a charge for a lost item fee or cleaning fee after a trip where nothing was left behind
- The charge appears hours after the trip with no prior communication from the driver
- Submitted 'evidence' photos appear to be stock images or photos from a different vehicle
- 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
- ✓Check your Uber receipts after every ride and dispute any unrecognized charges immediately through the app.
- ✓Take a photo of the back seat when exiting to have evidence of the vehicle's condition.
- ✓Contest the charge through Uber's Help section — describe the situation and note that you left no items and the car was clean.
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.
- Consumer advocacy groups and news outlets have documented numerous cases of drivers filing false cleaning and lost item claims, prompting Uber to enhance its claim verification process.
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.
- ✓Check your Uber receipts after every ride and dispute any unrecognized charges immediately through the app.
- ✓Take a photo of the back seat when exiting to have evidence of the vehicle's condition.
- ✓Contest the charge through Uber's Help section — describe the situation and note that you left no items and the car was clean.
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.
Consumer advocacy groups and news outlets have documented numerous cases of drivers filing false cleaning and lost item claims, prompting Uber to enhance its claim verification process.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
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
Uber riders, Urban commuters, Young adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
Uber — Rideshare scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Uber riders 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
- Consumer advocacy groups and news outlets have documented numerous cases of drivers filing false cleaning and lost item claims, prompting Uber to enhance its claim verification process.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about uber lost item fee scam
How does the uber lost item fee scam work?+
After completing a ride, a dishonest driver submits a claim to Uber stating the passenger left an item or made a mess in the vehicle. Uber's automated system charges the passenger a fee based on the driver's claim and submitted photos. Drivers who run this scam repeatedly target short trips or late-night riders who may not immediately notice the extra charge.
What are the warning signs of uber lost item fee scam?+
You receive a charge for a lost item fee or cleaning fee after a trip where nothing was left behind The charge appears hours after the trip with no prior communication from the driver Submitted 'evidence' photos appear to be stock images or photos from a different vehicle
What should I do if I encounter uber lost item fee scam?+
Check your Uber receipts after every ride and dispute any unrecognized charges immediately through the app. Take a photo of the back seat when exiting to have evidence of the vehicle's condition. Contest the charge through Uber's Help section — describe the situation and note that you left no items and the car was clean.
Who is most at risk for uber lost item fee scam?+
This scam primarily targets Uber riders, Urban commuters, Young adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on Uber.
Is uber lost item fee scam on the rise?+
Uber lost item fee scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
QR fraud
↑ 27%QR code parking sticker scam
A fake QR code sticker is placed on a real parking meter or payment point so the victim lands on a fraudulent payment page.
What to do first
Inspect the code physically before scanning.
Targets
Drivers
Seen in
U.S.
Romance scams
↑ 41%Long-distance model romance scam
A glamorous long-distance profile quickly becomes emotionally intense and asks for travel or document money to finally meet.
What to do first
Verify with a live video call and outside social proof before believing the story.
Targets
Young adults
Seen in
Global
Romance scams
↑ 41%Sugar dating verification fee scam
A match promises an allowance but first requests verification payments, subscription fees, or gift cards to activate the arrangement.
What to do first
Treat any payment-before-payment arrangement as fraud.
Targets
Students
Seen in
Global
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.