$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
vomit fee fraud scam
A rideshare driver falsely claims the rider vomited or damaged the vehicle and submits fabricated photo evidence to the platform, which charges a cleaning fee to the rider's account.
“Uber scam”
↑ 138%Key indicators
Usually targetsRideshare users
Often hitsDrivers and gig workers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
After the ride ends, the driver submits photos of a mess — either staged with props or reused from previous incidents.
2
The rideshare platform automatically charges the rider's payment method a cleaning fee, typically 80 to 150 USD.
3
The rider is notified after the charge is made and must dispute it through the platform's support process.
What to do first
Take a photo of the back seat when you exit any rideshare vehicle as documentation.
Related terms
fake cleaning fee scamdamage claim fraudrideshare cleaning fee scamRideshare scamsAppRisingRideshare usersTravelersUrban commutersDrivers and gig workersTravelersUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomfake cleaning fee scamdamage claim fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Kevin, 35, a rideshare users, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate rideshare scams situation while using App. After the ride ends, the driver submits photos of a mess — either staged with props or reused from previous incidents.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The rideshare platform automatically charges the rider's payment method a cleaning fee, typically 80 to 150 USD.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The rider is notified after the charge is made and must dispute it through the platform's support process.
The outcome
Kevin realized something was wrong when an unexpected cleaning fee of 80 to 150 usd appears on your account after a ride. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Take a photo of the back seat when you exit any rideshare vehicle as documentation. Kevin's experience shows why an unexpected cleaning fee of 80 to 150 usd appears on your account after a ride and you receive a notification about a mess that did not occur during your trip are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- An unexpected cleaning fee of 80 to 150 USD appears on your account after a ride
- You receive a notification about a mess that did not occur during your trip
- The driver was unusually insistent that you sit in a specific seat or area
- 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
- ✓Take a photo of the back seat when you exit any rideshare vehicle as documentation.
- ✓Dispute the charge immediately through the app with a detailed explanation and your own photos.
- ✓If the platform does not resolve it, dispute the charge with your credit card company.
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.
- Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against rideshare companies over fraudulent cleaning fee charges, with news investigations documenting driver patterns of filing false claims.
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.
- ✓Take a photo of the back seat when you exit any rideshare vehicle as documentation.
- ✓Dispute the charge immediately through the app with a detailed explanation and your own photos.
- ✓If the platform does not resolve it, dispute the charge with your credit card company.
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.
Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against rideshare companies over fraudulent cleaning fee charges, with news investigations documenting driver patterns of filing false claims.
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, Australia
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
- Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against rideshare companies over fraudulent cleaning fee charges, with news investigations documenting driver patterns of filing false claims.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about vomit fee fraud scam
How does the vomit fee fraud scam work?+
After the ride ends, the driver submits photos of a mess — either staged with props or reused from previous incidents. The rideshare platform automatically charges the rider's payment method a cleaning fee, typically 80 to 150 USD. The rider is notified after the charge is made and must dispute it through the platform's support process.
What are the warning signs of vomit fee fraud scam?+
An unexpected cleaning fee of 80 to 150 USD appears on your account after a ride You receive a notification about a mess that did not occur during your trip The driver was unusually insistent that you sit in a specific seat or area
What should I do if I encounter vomit fee fraud scam?+
Take a photo of the back seat when you exit any rideshare vehicle as documentation. Dispute the charge immediately through the app with a detailed explanation and your own photos. If the platform does not resolve it, dispute the charge with your credit card company.
Who is most at risk for vomit fee fraud scam?+
This scam primarily targets Rideshare users, Travelers, Urban commuters, Airport travelers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on App.
Is vomit fee fraud scam on the rise?+
vomit fee fraud scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
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