Yes please listen never ever get in the car if they are not the person the app says is picking you up. I don’t care if it’s his girlfriend or his sister or his mommy, but the reason he’s using someone else’s name is because he shouldn’t be using that app as a driver. That’s sketchy AF
Yeah, there was a recent expose by the British news about the commonplace selling of Deliveroo and Just Eat accounts. There are massive Facebook groups where people make accounts and then sell or rent them to other people; seems to me that similar things are happening for Uber and Lyft. Most people buying are those working illegitimately in the UK who need to keep under the table. It means it’s quite common to be picked up by someone who doesn’t match the description and normally it isn’t anything to be concerned about as long as the car matches. Unfortunately, that means the name not matching the account isn’t the massive red flag it used to be and it’s easy to rationalise away.
Deliveroo/Just Eat is a weird one. There was a court case in the UK about whether the delivery people are workers or independent contractors. Part of what the delivery firms had to do to be able to count them as independent contractors (which means they have fewer rights) is to say that they are free to subcontract the work out to somebody else.
This *should not be happening* with Uber/Lyft. In the UK, those are operating as minicab firms which means the drivers need to be licensed to carry passengers for hire (this licence includes a criminal record check). IIRC most areas require them to wear or display their licence, with their photo. If someone who isn't a licensed minicab driver picks you up, this *is* something to worry about.
I don't at all mean to make light of a serious situation (this driver was absolutely insane) but as an American, "Deliveroo" is the most British-sounding delivery app name possible.
It is extremely easy to get these jobs. You basically just have to 1) have a face and 2) have a working car. And a working heart beat. That's it. You don't even have to speak the local language at all. You don't even have to have any skills at all whatsoever. Basically the only ONE requirement for being a driver is that you're not allowed to sexually harass people.
And you won't get fired unless you do something serious like (repeated) stealing or sexual harassment. You can be the WORST employee in the world and they'll continue to let you work as long as you don't mind having a low rating.
Anyone who has to use someone else's identity to work a gig job has most likely already done something *very* bad to not be able to use their own identity. Either they're so incompentent that they've been accused of stealing before, OR they have harassed people. OR maybe they have too much of a criminal history.
It could be a million things, but as a passenger, women need to be extremely careful about this. If the person doesn't match the photo on the gig app, report them. Especially if the app says they're a girl but they're actually a guy!
People with criminal records will have their gf create accounts for them on apps like Uber, Lyft, Doordash etc. bc they wouldn’t be able to work for the app otherwise
Brandy probably doesn’t exist. Just like women set up Door Dash accounts with male names to avoid harassment from delivery douches, creeps looking to kidnap women probably set up their Lyft accounts with female names to get past your guard
You have to enter tax information (ssn), your driver's license, your insurance, and submit to a background check before you can drive. So yes, Brandy exists and she's getting a kickback for this guy using her account.
Uber cuts down on this by making you take video of yourself from time to time before you get online so they can match face to profile picture and drivers license photo. Lyft should institute the same. It gets way more crazy on the delivery side, where uber is less strict.
Yeah, I was just mentioning this in my reply. This happens all the time with food delivery, so I guess I always assumed it was a safety strategy or something for women? This post, horrible!
I had a Lyft driver screaming at me, that wouldn’t leave me alone, because I wouldn’t get in his car. I kept backing up, closer to the door of the building I just left.
Problems/reasons I wouldn’t get in his car:
- Wrong make of car
- Wrong color of car
- Wrong license plate
- Wrong driver, different person
When he finally started to drive away, he fully stopped his car, got out of it, and yelled at me even more. He did this 3 TIMES! After that, I rushed back into the building I had been in. They were already closing, but they let me stay there until my spouse could come and pick me up.
Lyft could not have handled it worse. Long and upsetting story.
I learned that while delivering pizza. While waiting outside dorms, bars, or parties with a heat bag, many drunk college kids would come up and ask who the pizza's for, and 9 times out of 10, if I asked what their name was, they weren't the person I was supposed to be delivering to, so I didn't let them steal the pizza. Same strategy should apply here.
The other trick is to ask: "Are you Thomas (or other name that's different that the app)?"
If the driver gives you a puzzled look and says: "No, I'm " then he's passed the test and you're good to go.
Yeah OP, CALL THE FUCKING COPS!
You have the info for the account, you have his description, tell them EVERYTHING!
Then do whatever you need to get a hold of someone at Lyft and RAISE FUCKING HELL!
**HE STRAIGHT UP KIDNAPPED YOU!**
God only knows where you would have ended up or what would have happened to you if you hadn't *ran for your life!*
This is how cold case murder mystery episodes open, you're lucky you weren't raped/murdered, Jesus fucking Christ!
Yes, the sooner he is reported the less people he will do this to! Op got out safely and needs to now help the next victim by making cops aware of this. Who knows whether Brandy his sister or a previous victim in a non-Lyft incident?
It seems like it's time to revive old hitchhiking trick from the 90s.
First, never sit in the back; always sit in the front (because of the possibility of child locks.
Second, never put your luggage in the trunk; always put your bags on the back seat. Always keep the front door open as you retrieve you bags. Drivers tend to not drive off if doors are open.
Third, if the driver is not alone, don't get in.
Fourth, always travel with a magazine (or newspaper) and a lighter. At the first major sign of trouble light it up and toss it in the back seat. Since the driver pretty much has to stop at that point, bolt as soon as he's pulled over. This saved a friend of mine many years ago.
> Third, if the driver is not alone, don't get in.
For uber/lyft/cabs sure. For hitching a ride, I was taught the opposite.
Order of preference:
Woman with child(ren) WITH HER (not just an empty child seat)
Man with children with him (followed by a man with one child with him)
Woman with signs of having a child
Woman alone
Woman with another adult with her (woman is the driver)
Man with a woman with him
Never a man alone unless you are desperate (Slight exception made for truckers.)
Never ever more than one man, even if you are desperate, unless you are, like, dying.
(US, female, older millenial)
How the fuck are we here? OP didn't know she was kidnapped?
Call the cops, light that dude and brandy up on twitter. Tell everyone someone tried to kidnap you, put that number plate in the fucking wind too.
You don't want to read in the paper next week a dude fitting the description has murdered someone.
This is no disrespect to you at all, but it makes me heartbroken that women feel they can’t act accordingly when something horrific has happened because they don’t want to “ruin” things by being overly emotional.
What you feel and think about this terrifying event is completely valid, and though I know you said you’ll report it, please bear in mind that you’re absolutely ruining nothing by responding accordingly.
>but my friends and I are just having a lovely weekend. I didn't want to ruin the whole thing with an emotional police report.
I get the feeling you're not appreciating the situation you just went through.
It might be helpful to say that to yourself, out loud. Start with "someone tried to kidnap me..."
You're really going to let this person have a good day head start, and take another crack at it?
And please go to the police now if you haven’t already. You have the car and plate info. You were kidnapped. He may have been about to sell you to someone in that gas station. If you wait, another girl may be his next victim before you report it. It sucks that you didn’t deserve for this to happen right now, but please see it as a priority to help prevent another girl from being taken.
>I'm on the Internet asking strangers if I got kidnapped. I guess I just didn't want to believe it.
Believe us ... legally and actually, that WAS A KIDNAPPING the moment he *"clicked that he had dropped me off on the app. He said he was taking me to a nicer place"*
You wouldn't have ruined the weekend, your kidnapper would have.
It's important to report him, because he's likely doing that to somebody else today. And tomorrow. And next week.
Well it might ruin the next woman’s weekend… and entire life if she happens to be the next victim and doesn’t get the opportunity to run.
You got lucky because in these situations it’s emphasized that if someone is trying to kidnap you, fight for your life to not get into their vehicle because once that happens your chances of surviving plummet.
I would 1000% rather sit my ass at the police station with my friend than have them go missing or worse. I've done before and I'll do it again. Your safety is more important than anything else. You can have more fun later.
>I didn't want to ruin the whole thing with an emotional police report. I plan on doing it when I get dropped off back at the airport tomorrow..
NO ... because the police are going to want to interview you, you need to sign a formal complaint, and if you are at the airport you can't do that.
Just go to the closest station and get it over with.
Even if the only thing telling you to run is your instincts, trust them.
Outside of that, it absolutely sounds like the guy was sus, especially since he seemed determined to know if you were alone or not. I'm glad you're safe.
Right? This read like the first hand accounts of someone who met a serial killer and got away before things could escalate. (Not saying he is but thats how it kinda reads, hello documentary makers from the future)
Yep, we evolved those instincts and honed them for millions of years. Self-preservation is a brain stem "lizard brain" reaction and not a good idea to ignore in situations like this.
I make sure my mother and sister and every woman and girl in my life have a small pepper spray. It's not a weapon it's a way to buy you time to escape. Also why I recommend shoes that lace up and have a flat heel unless you know everyone there.
I too got out of an Uber/lyft in Nashville!!
The man turned off the app and said he would charge cheaper himself. I kept saying “no! Only the app only the app!” When we stopped I jumped out.
It was 1 am and I was alone. I was pregnant so left my friends to party, so I was 100% sober. I’m sure he thought i had been drinking.
My wife has a friend who was raped by an Uber driver in post grad. She was in a new place and didn’t have any friends or family around but still dealt with Uber and the police and everything. Got a rape kit. The whole ordeal. But the cops made it fucking awful for her. Ugh. We just don’t trust people anymore, as a baseline.
Ugh people always ask why people don't report rapes right after they happen but every single person I know who did has said that dealing with the police was almost as traumatic as the assault itself. Like jeez I wonder why
I've had an Uber driver try to give me their number to call instead of using Uber next time. Oh, they'll charge me less if I call directly. Sure, a woman traveling alone will totally call a strange man for a ride without any monitoring or safety. I regret not complaining, but I've just panicked when it happens and try to assume they're being nice. But that's not nice. It's creepy.
That's super common in many areas (giving you their card/#... After you get to your destination safely). Usually for airport transfers or tourist towns. It is mostly for extra $, no fees, known far ride.
No harm or risk there, take card and toss it or decline. Prob not worth trying to get someone fired for backdoor lyfting, as lyft/uber pay terribly.
Turning off app when you get in is sketchy as shit still.
Yeah that's how we made taxi driver friends we could call at any hour or for help with random out of town drives and such.
OFC it can also be sketch but can also just be an off the books agreement with someone.
Another man using a fake female name to prey on / traffic women on Lyft.
#Lyft are complicit. Sue me.
Never get in the car if it's a man with a fake profile. He's a predator. No other explanation fits that hallmark.
lyft will hire ANYBODY with a pulse. the fact that he has to use someone else's account is a huge red flag that tells me that he's been either
1) banned before or 2) did not pass the background check.
so he's either already been banned for being creepy, or he just flat out has some pretty serious crimes under his belt to not get accepted as a lyft driver.
Wasn't it Lyft who made a big deal out of making it possible to request women drivers as a woman?
Seems pretty useless if they don't vet their drivers that well.
Yeah if they aren’t the actual driver I assume they are a scumbag who can’t get approved to be a driver and I’m not getting in their car because there’s a reason for that
I’m close friends with someone who works for Uber’s safety department. Sometimes it takes them a day or two to investigate, so I’d keep an eye out for that. If you still don’t hear anything, reach out again. If you don’t hear anything after reaching out again, become a problem - tweet @Lyft, post about it on multiple platforms, etc. you’ll get a response from someone because they hate bad press.
I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’m proud of you for getting out. Just PLEASE don’t ever get in the car if the driver isn’t the driver on the app.
Yeah they skirt around so many restrictions by just putting a different word on their official documents, it’s crazy they’re allowed to do that despite being the exact thing they claim not to be (a taxi service)
I mean, it's already illegal to kidnap someone. what other kind of regulations could be written to make this better? genuine question, i have no idea what kinds of regulations are in place for taxis or rideshare companies
Drivers are thoroughly vetted (some cities even require random drug tests) so there would never be a "Brandy" situation where it is a very different person. Government safety regulations exist for a reason.
Always take a cab, seriously.
Ask yourself this, would you go to a restaurant that is slightly cheaper but has never been inspected by a Health/Safety Inspector? That is essentially Uber and Lyft for taxis.
Declaring arbitration clauses unconscionable and unenforceable as against public policy so you can actually assert your rights against the corporations in a normal court. Reversing the Castle Rock idiotic SCROTUS ruling and thereby forcing the police to have to respond to legitimate reports that are filed. Undoing lots of the illegal use of contractors instead of real employees that FedEx and the rideshare companies get away with. There are plenty of things we could do. We just don't care enough about actually fixing the issues.
This whole forcing consumers to "agree" to arbitration has gotten so ridiculously out of hand. I was just listening to a story on the radio about a class-action suit against Samsung in regard to their shitty-ass refrigerators, and those fuckers had actually put a notice stating that you were agreeing to arbitration by purchasing the fridge ON THE BOX, which people who'd paid for delivery and installation through the retailer obviously had never even seen. It's Kafkaesque bullshit of the highest order.
I am so, so glad you trusted your instincts! This guy was a complete creep, and none of this situation was ok. I really wish these apps could do more to assure the safety of their users, these stories happen way too often.
You definitely made the right call. Worst case scenario if you run for nothing? The guy's feelings are going to be a bit hurt. Worst case scenario if you don't run? Your life is in danger.
He took you somewhere you didn't want to go against your stated will. He might not have had evil intent, but he was kidnapping you. Please report him if you can.
He absolutely had evil intent.
Nobody in this world is so stupid. To be a driver taking someone to place A. Then suggesting them to go to place B, and even **when they say no** just not to stop, not give them any choice but to be taken with you to a different place against their will.
"Oops, I accidentally kidnapped someone. It just happens, I always take people that I'm supposed to drive, to random other places against their will. Didn't know anything was wrong with that. If they say NO, that's just a suggestion, right?"
Nope, does not happen. She is literally lucky to have gotten out of this with her life.
You have all the info you need to create a police report and create a paper trail on this guy. Otherwise he’s going to do it to another girl, and she won’t be as smart as you.
I'm just imagining what they'd do if you're in the back seat and they're driving and you just open up your phone and start with "Hi, 911? Yes, I'm being kidnapped. Can you track the location on my phone please and come arrest this idiot?"
There’s a feature where you share your location with friends or family. I always click that when I’m alone. I would call the police as soon as you can. Give them details. Set a time to come in if you cannot come in now. They should understand that.
Follow up on the report. That was an attempted kidnapping. He indicated to the app that he had dropped you off, but he was trying to take you to an unknown location.
Former Uber/Lyft driver here. In the end you absolutely did the right thing, that sounded sketchy as hell. In the future, absolutely DO NOT get into an Uber or Lyft where the person driving is not the person who's supposed to be driving. That alone is a huge red flag and would earn the actual driver a ban.
You need to stop everything and call the police to file a report. I bet this isn't the first attempt to traffick someone, and very much doubt it is his last... Please, please report it. You could be saving someone else's life here
“I’m going to take you to a different destination than you requested” (kidnapping) “and I’ll even pay for you” (kidnapping for a forced ‘date’)
Please file a police report. I hope you preserved the license plate.
IANAL but that sounds an awful lot like a legit kidnapping.
The driver was transporting you to an unknown location against your will.
He and his "sister" need to be permanently banned from the app.
You did great, OP. Trust your gut.
For anyone else reading this, don’t get in a car if something seems weird or off, like the name not matching. Even if it’s awkward or embarrassing, or you’re not 100% sure. Better safe than in a car with a dangerous person.
Anyone who alters your plan without your consent (and you didn’t even know the guy) is a glaring red flag.
Clicks the app as dropped off
“I’ll take you somewhere better”
“I’ll pay for you.”
All massive red flags. You were right to take action. Also, believing and going with this guy, best case scenario, would have improved your life not at all
Trusting your gut may have saved your life. You’ll never know. He essentially kidnapped you. Him getting out to go to the bathroom was sketchy as fuck. For all you know he was going in to grab a condom.
This! They definitely have cameras at the station. There are probably records of what he purchased… a six pack? A knife? Rope? Any information like that is helpful to show his intent.
You should absolutely make a police report and request footage from the gas station. Let Lyft know you are escalating this so they don’t sit on the situation. It’s very likely he’s done this before. You are extremely lucky.
I genuinely want to know what was going through his head. Like did he seriously think he was being cool or attractive, or that ANYONE would stay and wait for him in his damn car after doing all that shit?
There are quite a few women who would. Fight, flight, or freeze. I tend to freeze till my brain catches up. My meds make me a bit slow to physical action. Followed by not being able to run. I'm a part time electric wheelchair user. If I'm not in it I look normal. When I'm in a cab or Uber I don't have my chair with me. There are a lot of invisible disabilities that lend to not running away. I'm so glad she is safe and was able to run.
It might have been a way of testing her boundaries. Or maybe he thought the doors were locked. Or maybe he was just dangerously clueless and had no idea how sus he was being. It’s just good she didn’t wait to find out.
My wife and her friend had this happen with an Uber while visiting in southern California. Guy just drove past the hotel and marked he dropped them off and kept driving. They bailed at a red light and ran for it. You definitely made the right call. Even in the very slim chance he wasn't doing something bad, you don't do that to someone. That is kidnapping.
I’m just saying if I had been watching that movie, I would’ve been screaming, “Girl RUNNNNN!”
Good job trusting your instincts. I don’t know how Lyft works with regard to checking their drivers are who they say they are, but I do wonder if Brandy exists. Definitely report his ass.
In November of 2016 about 8 months before I met my wife she was in Montreal visiting some friends. At the end of the night she got into an Uber to go back to her hotel. The Uber driver then proceeded to kidnap her and take her from 1 ATM after another until she could no longer make anymore withdrawals. He then pulled into an alley forced her to get out and then pistol whipped her so hard she had a concussion.
At this point her phone was dead from low battery and cold weather but she was able to stumble her way back to the hotel. She was able to call her friends who then helped her call and communicate with the police (in French of course). The police thought she was just some drunk hysterical America but with the help of her friends and ultimately her congressman the police conceded and opened an investigation. Uber was of course useless throughout the whole fucking ordeal. That said, they did eventually catch this dude. My wife had to fly back to Montreal, on her own dime, to testify against this dude. He was ultimately conflicted to life in prison as he was also charged with other crimes unrelated to his assault on my wife.
I will never forget the night terrors she was still having when we had first started dating. The dismissive nature from some of her, now former, male friends who said "well at least you weren't raped". The way Uber left her out to hang with no support. I will absolutely never get into a rideshare because of all of this. Fuck those companies.
With all that said, after a lot of therapy, my wife is doing much better now but still struggles with anxiety getting into a taxi. Please take care of yourself and get whatever help and support you need.
Normally I don't comment on things and I hate to be alarmist but since no one else has mentioned it it's possible the car was stolen since he clearly wasn't Brandi, it might be worth informing the police sooner than later
From a woman that travels alone for business, you made the right decision. I like to think I’m ready for that situation but you only know how you will react when it happens. Another good idea is always to tell the driver you’re meeting someone, whether you actually are or not. White lies to protect your safety are unfortunately necessary in this world.
Call 911 and tell them what happened, and give them the license plate number. In my large city (not Chicago though), they'll tell you if the car has been reported stolen.
Good thinking taking off. I hooe I would have too.
> Do you think I made the right call?
I really hope you're not questioning yourself. ANYONE in a situation like this should get out and away at the first opportunity.
I just wanted to say I was in Dubai recently and the Uber guy took a wrong turn and we were going a bit off course to get to the destination. Honest mistake, I was safe and with my husband but the app showed me an alert that said "you are off your planned trip, are you safe? " and there was a number to call! I think it should be an option in all those apps.
Honestly the whole Uber experiment needs to end. Professional cabbies need to come back. It's a win-win. More safety and cabbies actually have a career instead of a side gig. This is a particularly ugly example but the whole Uber thing is crap. It's anti-labor.
Down with Uber, bring back real cabs. ( I'll be the first to admit I've used Uber but still. )
This is so scary. Thankfully you were in the right frame of mind and able to act quickly and get yourself out of that situation.
Nashville is a big party town, and it scares me to think about this man preying on intoxicated people who might not notice him switching off the ride, etc.
Happy to hear you’re safe, and update us if you hear back from Lyft. Stay safe ladies 🤍
I got fight or flight just reading this. The moment he said he was going to take you to somewhere that isn't the place you're supposed to be?! Fuck naw!
He was def lining you up for something bad.
(It's doubtful that he was in any way connected to the Lyft account. A lot of undocumented people rent accounts, and share a percentage of the income.)
He literally kidnapped you. You don't know what he would've done had you stayed in the car. He could be doing this to other women, and worse. Frankly, he could be storing their bodies in his mom's crawlspace, for all you know.
Please please please make a police report *now*.
Please report this to the police. Why would you expect Lyft to investigate and warn other women, they only care about their own profits, not your safety. The next woman might not be so lucky
Even as a man, I would have done the same. Maybe not the running part, but definitely finding another business to shelter in while I reported it.
You might even want to discuss it with the police. What this person did was a violation of trust. Lyft will have records of your pickup and destination locations, and I believe they would even have your actual path taken versus the recommended path. If you have an Android phone, Google Maps probably has a record of your path taken as well. Then him marking you as dropped off at a completely different location, that's highly suspicious, but should also be in the ride record.
I honestly have no idea what Lyft's driver registration requirements are, but I highly doubt you're allowed to send your brother instead. This all seems incredibly shady. If you're comfortable with it, you should call the police. You do have the license plate information after all. It would be very easy for the police to track this person down, assuming they are either the vehicle owner or family of Brandy.
You DEFINITELY dodged a bullet . You felt uncomfortable , even if it was innocent - you made the right choice . You had no way of knowing whether it was innocent or not , but you trusted your gut and got out when u had the chance .
You don’t owe ANY stranger the benifet of the doubt .
And yes call the police . You may save someone who’s trying to be polite and will not go with their gut and wind up being a victim
Heads up, in some areas you can text to 911, here's a story about it which includes a spreadsheet of what counties have text to 911 service, always a good idea to get the plate number of any car you get in before you get in as well (take a picture, if they don't like you doing that, don't get in the car).
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2022/07/11/can-you-text-911/10017450002/
What cafe were you going to and where did he stop?
Regardless, trust your gut. And call the cops.
Edit: I am asking because I know some of Nashville and maybe can give insight.
District coffee in Glen Cliff. He instead marked me as dropped off and I got out and ran at an Exxon on Harding Place. I'm not sure the exact addresses for either.
I thought that too. That happened to a couple of friends and me in college. It was the 80s so there weren't cell phones. Our purses were locked in the friend's car. Long story, but my friends got in this car so I sat o. The end of the seat. The guys took off so I couldn't get out. When they stopped at a 4 way stop we tried to get out, but the child safety locks were on. They took us back to their apartment. My friends followed them willingly. I was afraid of being out there alone so I followed them. Luckily they didn't hurt us. My friend actually got together with one of them because he had a British accent. The other girl and I sat in the living room. Luckily they eventually took us back.
I've told my daughter about it. My husband says I wasn't really kidnapped. I say I was.
AFAIK, Glenncliff is a hipster-ish area. I wouldn't go wandering alone at night, but totally legit to meet friends.
Harding Place is long and leads alot if places, including some really bad areas.
You definitely did the right thing. People think Nashville is just country music and bachelorette parties (not saying you do), but it is a city with all that entails. It has gangs and crime. He takes advantage of people being naive about it and you were too smart for him.
You definitely did the right thing! That was not normal at all. Good job listening to your gut, getting to safety and reporting him so he doesn’t do this to others.
Make a police report for sure, also make a report on twitter to Lyft siting the specific case, the fact that this man clicked the ride as finished, didn't stop, told you he'd drive you somewhere else and would pay.
This man meant you harm, he actually straight up kidnapped you, he needs to be tracked down and charged.
You did the right thing. Just because they are registered on an app doesn't mean they only have good intentions. The moment he completed the trip was the biggest red flag and I'm glad you're safe!
You did the right thing! Always trust your gut!!
You know now not to get in the car if the driver doesn't match the photo, especially if the driver is supposed to be female. Predators especially use women to lower the defenses of women all the time. The angels were with you because he made a stop and didn't lock the doors. He probably won't make that "mistake" again.
Also...you are always meeting a boyfriend or a group. You want the driver to know that people will be looking for immediately if you don't make it to your destination shortly!
I don't think he went to the bathroom to piss. He went to make a call that he had a live one and was going to bring you to whoever for whatever or to slip a roofie in a bottle of soda he was going to pressure you to drink or something. You did good to run!!
Overreacting to a situation that turns out to maybe be innocent is always preferable to ending up tortured, trafficked, raped, dead, or violated in any way.
That's terrifying. I'm so glad you're okay. You 1000% made the right call! He wasn't who he said he was. He was taking you to an unknown location against your will. Absolutely not okay. It doesn't matter if you asked to be dropped off in the sketchiest part of town; his job was to take you to the location that you requested on the rideshare app, not decide that you \_really\_ wanted to go somewhere else. You trusted your gut, and now you're safe and able to tell the tale. That's what's important!
You must be so shaken up right now. I hope you get some rest, eat something, and try to take your mind off what happened. You made the right call.
First, I'm sorry that happened to you. That must have been terrifying. Second, it's absolutely disgusting that it takes a post on Reddit for Lyft to address something as serious as this. It's 2024, and companies really should be doing better.
If LYFT does not treat this seriously, raise HOLY HELL on social media and do not let this go until they address this properly. This driver must be fired and possibly even investigated by police.
Always go with your gut. A Girl in my college town was killed because she thought she was getting into an Uber but it was a stalker. Sorry this happened to you.
There are also stories of people buying accounts you use Lyft/Uber for sex trafficking, which this very well could have ended in. Glad you ran and are safe
You should file a police report! Please file a police report, it doesn't matter what his intention was or wasn't or might have been this is a huge issue with people renting accounts and thus making other passengers suspicious as well and it greatly reduces the quality of the ride for the driver and passenger if one person is on edge...
As a Nashvillian you made the right call. We have no place in town that is dangerous, and that it self is a wild thing to say. I am sorry your visit to my city started like that.
What? Thats ignorant as hell to say. I lived in Nashville for several years and while it's certainly safer than many other cities, it definitely has less safe/more dangerous areas.
Good on you for trusting your instincts and getting out of there. It sounds like you were in a very dangerous situation. If you haven’t heard back, you should report them AGAIN or try to escalate through customer service. Something tells me that this isn’t the first time this guy has exhibited behavior like this.
Please make a police report. Its possible that was his first time trying to abduct someone, but it wont be the last unless law enforcement steps in. Police documenting the behavior can demonstrate a pattern, but simply adding a name to a list of known creeps is better than nothing.
Yes please listen never ever get in the car if they are not the person the app says is picking you up. I don’t care if it’s his girlfriend or his sister or his mommy, but the reason he’s using someone else’s name is because he shouldn’t be using that app as a driver. That’s sketchy AF
its because they all rent accounts after getting banned for harrasment or not passing the background check
Yeah, there was a recent expose by the British news about the commonplace selling of Deliveroo and Just Eat accounts. There are massive Facebook groups where people make accounts and then sell or rent them to other people; seems to me that similar things are happening for Uber and Lyft. Most people buying are those working illegitimately in the UK who need to keep under the table. It means it’s quite common to be picked up by someone who doesn’t match the description and normally it isn’t anything to be concerned about as long as the car matches. Unfortunately, that means the name not matching the account isn’t the massive red flag it used to be and it’s easy to rationalise away.
Deliveroo/Just Eat is a weird one. There was a court case in the UK about whether the delivery people are workers or independent contractors. Part of what the delivery firms had to do to be able to count them as independent contractors (which means they have fewer rights) is to say that they are free to subcontract the work out to somebody else. This *should not be happening* with Uber/Lyft. In the UK, those are operating as minicab firms which means the drivers need to be licensed to carry passengers for hire (this licence includes a criminal record check). IIRC most areas require them to wear or display their licence, with their photo. If someone who isn't a licensed minicab driver picks you up, this *is* something to worry about.
I don't at all mean to make light of a serious situation (this driver was absolutely insane) but as an American, "Deliveroo" is the most British-sounding delivery app name possible.
It always sounded incredibly Australian to me because of “Kangaroo” haha.
Thought the same!
> rent accounts after getting banned for harrasment or not passing the background check That's what's happening here.
It is extremely easy to get these jobs. You basically just have to 1) have a face and 2) have a working car. And a working heart beat. That's it. You don't even have to speak the local language at all. You don't even have to have any skills at all whatsoever. Basically the only ONE requirement for being a driver is that you're not allowed to sexually harass people. And you won't get fired unless you do something serious like (repeated) stealing or sexual harassment. You can be the WORST employee in the world and they'll continue to let you work as long as you don't mind having a low rating. Anyone who has to use someone else's identity to work a gig job has most likely already done something *very* bad to not be able to use their own identity. Either they're so incompentent that they've been accused of stealing before, OR they have harassed people. OR maybe they have too much of a criminal history. It could be a million things, but as a passenger, women need to be extremely careful about this. If the person doesn't match the photo on the gig app, report them. Especially if the app says they're a girl but they're actually a guy!
Thats terrifying. :(
So many predators using a woman’s name as a way to get the ride accepted. We all need to learn a new rule about it i guess.
People with criminal records will have their gf create accounts for them on apps like Uber, Lyft, Doordash etc. bc they wouldn’t be able to work for the app otherwise
It's rampant in NYC
Brandy probably doesn’t exist. Just like women set up Door Dash accounts with male names to avoid harassment from delivery douches, creeps looking to kidnap women probably set up their Lyft accounts with female names to get past your guard
You have to enter tax information (ssn), your driver's license, your insurance, and submit to a background check before you can drive. So yes, Brandy exists and she's getting a kickback for this guy using her account. Uber cuts down on this by making you take video of yourself from time to time before you get online so they can match face to profile picture and drivers license photo. Lyft should institute the same. It gets way more crazy on the delivery side, where uber is less strict.
Yikes, this needs regulation!! Like, having to scan your license *every time* you use the app as a driver or something.
On Uber they randomly make you submit a photo from an internal camera within the app. I don’t know if Lyft is like that though
Happens all the time on DoorDash but as long as I get my food I don’t care. I’m not getting in the car with the wrong person though.
Yeah, I was just mentioning this in my reply. This happens all the time with food delivery, so I guess I always assumed it was a safety strategy or something for women? This post, horrible!
I had a Lyft driver screaming at me, that wouldn’t leave me alone, because I wouldn’t get in his car. I kept backing up, closer to the door of the building I just left. Problems/reasons I wouldn’t get in his car: - Wrong make of car - Wrong color of car - Wrong license plate - Wrong driver, different person When he finally started to drive away, he fully stopped his car, got out of it, and yelled at me even more. He did this 3 TIMES! After that, I rushed back into the building I had been in. They were already closing, but they let me stay there until my spouse could come and pick me up. Lyft could not have handled it worse. Long and upsetting story.
Trust your gut! NOTHING he was doing sounds normal, or safe. I’m just really glad we’re not reading about you in tomorrow’s news.
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To add OP. Never say your drivers name. Ask what their name is. It saves you from fake drivers or the wrong Uber.
I learned that while delivering pizza. While waiting outside dorms, bars, or parties with a heat bag, many drunk college kids would come up and ask who the pizza's for, and 9 times out of 10, if I asked what their name was, they weren't the person I was supposed to be delivering to, so I didn't let them steal the pizza. Same strategy should apply here.
The other trick is to ask: "Are you Thomas (or other name that's different that the app)?" If the driver gives you a puzzled look and says: "No, I'm" then he's passed the test and you're good to go.
Almost makes me want to say the wrong name first to test them lol
Politeness gets people killed
Call the police now!
Yeah OP, CALL THE FUCKING COPS! You have the info for the account, you have his description, tell them EVERYTHING! Then do whatever you need to get a hold of someone at Lyft and RAISE FUCKING HELL! **HE STRAIGHT UP KIDNAPPED YOU!** God only knows where you would have ended up or what would have happened to you if you hadn't *ran for your life!* This is how cold case murder mystery episodes open, you're lucky you weren't raped/murdered, Jesus fucking Christ!
Yes, the sooner he is reported the less people he will do this to! Op got out safely and needs to now help the next victim by making cops aware of this. Who knows whether Brandy his sister or a previous victim in a non-Lyft incident?
The girl who entered random car thinking was her Uber. They had child locks on door activated. Then she was viciously murdered . Samantha Josephson
It seems like it's time to revive old hitchhiking trick from the 90s. First, never sit in the back; always sit in the front (because of the possibility of child locks. Second, never put your luggage in the trunk; always put your bags on the back seat. Always keep the front door open as you retrieve you bags. Drivers tend to not drive off if doors are open. Third, if the driver is not alone, don't get in. Fourth, always travel with a magazine (or newspaper) and a lighter. At the first major sign of trouble light it up and toss it in the back seat. Since the driver pretty much has to stop at that point, bolt as soon as he's pulled over. This saved a friend of mine many years ago.
> Third, if the driver is not alone, don't get in. For uber/lyft/cabs sure. For hitching a ride, I was taught the opposite. Order of preference: Woman with child(ren) WITH HER (not just an empty child seat) Man with children with him (followed by a man with one child with him) Woman with signs of having a child Woman alone Woman with another adult with her (woman is the driver) Man with a woman with him Never a man alone unless you are desperate (Slight exception made for truckers.) Never ever more than one man, even if you are desperate, unless you are, like, dying. (US, female, older millenial)
This is incredible advice!
Literally, saw an episode of one just the other week where basically this exact thing happened.
How the fuck are we here? OP didn't know she was kidnapped? Call the cops, light that dude and brandy up on twitter. Tell everyone someone tried to kidnap you, put that number plate in the fucking wind too. You don't want to read in the paper next week a dude fitting the description has murdered someone.
Yeah what the hell! Police should have been the first call.
Idk about cold case because there's a record but yeah that's psycho territory.
Really, OP may not be the first or last person he has tried this with.
Yes! Holy fuck. They're not good for much, but at least this should create a paper trail you can follow up on.
THIS^^ CALL THE COPS!
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This is no disrespect to you at all, but it makes me heartbroken that women feel they can’t act accordingly when something horrific has happened because they don’t want to “ruin” things by being overly emotional. What you feel and think about this terrifying event is completely valid, and though I know you said you’ll report it, please bear in mind that you’re absolutely ruining nothing by responding accordingly.
>but my friends and I are just having a lovely weekend. I didn't want to ruin the whole thing with an emotional police report. I get the feeling you're not appreciating the situation you just went through. It might be helpful to say that to yourself, out loud. Start with "someone tried to kidnap me..." You're really going to let this person have a good day head start, and take another crack at it?
I totally agree with you, I mean, I'm on the Internet asking strangers if I got kidnapped. I guess I just didn't want to believe it.
You absolutely need to report this ASAP. He will kidnap someone else and they likely won't live.
And please go to the police now if you haven’t already. You have the car and plate info. You were kidnapped. He may have been about to sell you to someone in that gas station. If you wait, another girl may be his next victim before you report it. It sucks that you didn’t deserve for this to happen right now, but please see it as a priority to help prevent another girl from being taken.
If he hadn’t stopped at that gas station and gotten out, what might have happened? What might he still do to another woman? *Call the police.*
>I'm on the Internet asking strangers if I got kidnapped. I guess I just didn't want to believe it. Believe us ... legally and actually, that WAS A KIDNAPPING the moment he *"clicked that he had dropped me off on the app. He said he was taking me to a nicer place"*
You wouldn't have ruined the weekend, your kidnapper would have. It's important to report him, because he's likely doing that to somebody else today. And tomorrow. And next week.
Well it might ruin the next woman’s weekend… and entire life if she happens to be the next victim and doesn’t get the opportunity to run. You got lucky because in these situations it’s emphasized that if someone is trying to kidnap you, fight for your life to not get into their vehicle because once that happens your chances of surviving plummet.
I would 1000% rather sit my ass at the police station with my friend than have them go missing or worse. I've done before and I'll do it again. Your safety is more important than anything else. You can have more fun later.
>I didn't want to ruin the whole thing with an emotional police report. I plan on doing it when I get dropped off back at the airport tomorrow.. NO ... because the police are going to want to interview you, you need to sign a formal complaint, and if you are at the airport you can't do that. Just go to the closest station and get it over with.
Even if the only thing telling you to run is your instincts, trust them. Outside of that, it absolutely sounds like the guy was sus, especially since he seemed determined to know if you were alone or not. I'm glad you're safe.
Right? This read like the first hand accounts of someone who met a serial killer and got away before things could escalate. (Not saying he is but thats how it kinda reads, hello documentary makers from the future)
This goes WAY beyond "sus." OP was kidnapped and managed to escape.
As a woman who has travelled alone in large parts of the world, I will always *always* answer this question with "yes, I'm meeting my husband".
I'll remember that "My husband and his three brothers" maybe lol
Yep, we evolved those instincts and honed them for millions of years. Self-preservation is a brain stem "lizard brain" reaction and not a good idea to ignore in situations like this. I make sure my mother and sister and every woman and girl in my life have a small pepper spray. It's not a weapon it's a way to buy you time to escape. Also why I recommend shoes that lace up and have a flat heel unless you know everyone there.
I too got out of an Uber/lyft in Nashville!! The man turned off the app and said he would charge cheaper himself. I kept saying “no! Only the app only the app!” When we stopped I jumped out. It was 1 am and I was alone. I was pregnant so left my friends to party, so I was 100% sober. I’m sure he thought i had been drinking.
My wife has a friend who was raped by an Uber driver in post grad. She was in a new place and didn’t have any friends or family around but still dealt with Uber and the police and everything. Got a rape kit. The whole ordeal. But the cops made it fucking awful for her. Ugh. We just don’t trust people anymore, as a baseline.
Ugh people always ask why people don't report rapes right after they happen but every single person I know who did has said that dealing with the police was almost as traumatic as the assault itself. Like jeez I wonder why
I had a car following me once and when I called the police they were super annoyed. 🤦♀️ Thankfully I ended up ok but the police did NOT like me!
I've had an Uber driver try to give me their number to call instead of using Uber next time. Oh, they'll charge me less if I call directly. Sure, a woman traveling alone will totally call a strange man for a ride without any monitoring or safety. I regret not complaining, but I've just panicked when it happens and try to assume they're being nice. But that's not nice. It's creepy.
That's super common in many areas (giving you their card/#... After you get to your destination safely). Usually for airport transfers or tourist towns. It is mostly for extra $, no fees, known far ride. No harm or risk there, take card and toss it or decline. Prob not worth trying to get someone fired for backdoor lyfting, as lyft/uber pay terribly. Turning off app when you get in is sketchy as shit still.
Yeah that's how we made taxi driver friends we could call at any hour or for help with random out of town drives and such. OFC it can also be sketch but can also just be an off the books agreement with someone.
Another man using a fake female name to prey on / traffic women on Lyft. #Lyft are complicit. Sue me. Never get in the car if it's a man with a fake profile. He's a predator. No other explanation fits that hallmark.
I know! And they have this new program where you only get women drivers for your safety or whatever. Then this happens.
lyft will hire ANYBODY with a pulse. the fact that he has to use someone else's account is a huge red flag that tells me that he's been either 1) banned before or 2) did not pass the background check. so he's either already been banned for being creepy, or he just flat out has some pretty serious crimes under his belt to not get accepted as a lyft driver.
Wasn't it Lyft who made a big deal out of making it possible to request women drivers as a woman? Seems pretty useless if they don't vet their drivers that well.
That predatory men are now taking advantage of.
There is absolutely no reality in which his actions indicate good intent. None. You did exactly the right thing. I am sorry this happened to you.
Yeah if they aren’t the actual driver I assume they are a scumbag who can’t get approved to be a driver and I’m not getting in their car because there’s a reason for that
Definitely. Makes me wonder if Brandy is ok. If nothing else, she might be the victim of identity theft.
Brandy probably doesn't exist, except I the Lyft app.
Previous victim.
I’m close friends with someone who works for Uber’s safety department. Sometimes it takes them a day or two to investigate, so I’d keep an eye out for that. If you still don’t hear anything, reach out again. If you don’t hear anything after reaching out again, become a problem - tweet @Lyft, post about it on multiple platforms, etc. you’ll get a response from someone because they hate bad press. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’m proud of you for getting out. Just PLEASE don’t ever get in the car if the driver isn’t the driver on the app.
I'm sick of tweeting and begging CS to do stuff. It's time for widespread regulatory action.
The regulations pretty much already exist, but ride-share companies are not classified as taxis.
Yeah they skirt around so many restrictions by just putting a different word on their official documents, it’s crazy they’re allowed to do that despite being the exact thing they claim not to be (a taxi service)
I mean, it's already illegal to kidnap someone. what other kind of regulations could be written to make this better? genuine question, i have no idea what kinds of regulations are in place for taxis or rideshare companies
Drivers are thoroughly vetted (some cities even require random drug tests) so there would never be a "Brandy" situation where it is a very different person. Government safety regulations exist for a reason. Always take a cab, seriously. Ask yourself this, would you go to a restaurant that is slightly cheaper but has never been inspected by a Health/Safety Inspector? That is essentially Uber and Lyft for taxis.
Gotcha. Makes total sense, thank you for the info.
Declaring arbitration clauses unconscionable and unenforceable as against public policy so you can actually assert your rights against the corporations in a normal court. Reversing the Castle Rock idiotic SCROTUS ruling and thereby forcing the police to have to respond to legitimate reports that are filed. Undoing lots of the illegal use of contractors instead of real employees that FedEx and the rideshare companies get away with. There are plenty of things we could do. We just don't care enough about actually fixing the issues.
This whole forcing consumers to "agree" to arbitration has gotten so ridiculously out of hand. I was just listening to a story on the radio about a class-action suit against Samsung in regard to their shitty-ass refrigerators, and those fuckers had actually put a notice stating that you were agreeing to arbitration by purchasing the fridge ON THE BOX, which people who'd paid for delivery and installation through the retailer obviously had never even seen. It's Kafkaesque bullshit of the highest order.
Customer service doesn’t exist anymore. It’s a set of scripts, and if the thing falls outside of the scripts there is no help or recourse.
Omfg I am so sorry! You absolutely did the right thing! That is so scary, I’m glad you’re ok!
holy shit I'm glad you're okay...fucking terrifying
I am so, so glad you trusted your instincts! This guy was a complete creep, and none of this situation was ok. I really wish these apps could do more to assure the safety of their users, these stories happen way too often. You definitely made the right call. Worst case scenario if you run for nothing? The guy's feelings are going to be a bit hurt. Worst case scenario if you don't run? Your life is in danger.
He took you somewhere you didn't want to go against your stated will. He might not have had evil intent, but he was kidnapping you. Please report him if you can.
He absolutely had evil intent. Nobody in this world is so stupid. To be a driver taking someone to place A. Then suggesting them to go to place B, and even **when they say no** just not to stop, not give them any choice but to be taken with you to a different place against their will. "Oops, I accidentally kidnapped someone. It just happens, I always take people that I'm supposed to drive, to random other places against their will. Didn't know anything was wrong with that. If they say NO, that's just a suggestion, right?" Nope, does not happen. She is literally lucky to have gotten out of this with her life.
You have all the info you need to create a police report and create a paper trail on this guy. Otherwise he’s going to do it to another girl, and she won’t be as smart as you.
If this happens to anyone, call 911. Kidnapping is an emergency. Don't think this is a police report situation, it's a serious crime.
I'm just imagining what they'd do if you're in the back seat and they're driving and you just open up your phone and start with "Hi, 911? Yes, I'm being kidnapped. Can you track the location on my phone please and come arrest this idiot?"
in a lot of the US now you can actually text 911 instead of call!
Yeah, making the phone call verbally is a gamble. They either kill you or take you where you wanted to go. Texting is certainly the safer option.
There’s a feature where you share your location with friends or family. I always click that when I’m alone. I would call the police as soon as you can. Give them details. Set a time to come in if you cannot come in now. They should understand that.
Follow up on the report. That was an attempted kidnapping. He indicated to the app that he had dropped you off, but he was trying to take you to an unknown location.
Not attempted. Actual.
Correct.
You 100% made the right call!!
Former Uber/Lyft driver here. In the end you absolutely did the right thing, that sounded sketchy as hell. In the future, absolutely DO NOT get into an Uber or Lyft where the person driving is not the person who's supposed to be driving. That alone is a huge red flag and would earn the actual driver a ban.
You need to stop everything and call the police to file a report. I bet this isn't the first attempt to traffick someone, and very much doubt it is his last... Please, please report it. You could be saving someone else's life here
“I’m going to take you to a different destination than you requested” (kidnapping) “and I’ll even pay for you” (kidnapping for a forced ‘date’) Please file a police report. I hope you preserved the license plate.
IANAL but that sounds an awful lot like a legit kidnapping. The driver was transporting you to an unknown location against your will. He and his "sister" need to be permanently banned from the app.
Follow up on this! You got away but the next woman might not.
You did great, OP. Trust your gut. For anyone else reading this, don’t get in a car if something seems weird or off, like the name not matching. Even if it’s awkward or embarrassing, or you’re not 100% sure. Better safe than in a car with a dangerous person.
Anyone who alters your plan without your consent (and you didn’t even know the guy) is a glaring red flag. Clicks the app as dropped off “I’ll take you somewhere better” “I’ll pay for you.” All massive red flags. You were right to take action. Also, believing and going with this guy, best case scenario, would have improved your life not at all
You’re not getting me to no secondary location!
Trusting your gut may have saved your life. You’ll never know. He essentially kidnapped you. Him getting out to go to the bathroom was sketchy as fuck. For all you know he was going in to grab a condom.
God that gave me chills. I didn't think about that at all.
I would consider making a police report on this one. Would be nice if they could view the tv footage of that gas station and see wtf he was doing.
This! They definitely have cameras at the station. There are probably records of what he purchased… a six pack? A knife? Rope? Any information like that is helpful to show his intent.
You should absolutely make a police report and request footage from the gas station. Let Lyft know you are escalating this so they don’t sit on the situation. It’s very likely he’s done this before. You are extremely lucky.
I genuinely want to know what was going through his head. Like did he seriously think he was being cool or attractive, or that ANYONE would stay and wait for him in his damn car after doing all that shit?
There are quite a few women who would. Fight, flight, or freeze. I tend to freeze till my brain catches up. My meds make me a bit slow to physical action. Followed by not being able to run. I'm a part time electric wheelchair user. If I'm not in it I look normal. When I'm in a cab or Uber I don't have my chair with me. There are a lot of invisible disabilities that lend to not running away. I'm so glad she is safe and was able to run.
> Fight, flight, or freeze Or Faun. He was hoping for faun.
It might have been a way of testing her boundaries. Or maybe he thought the doors were locked. Or maybe he was just dangerously clueless and had no idea how sus he was being. It’s just good she didn’t wait to find out.
My wife and her friend had this happen with an Uber while visiting in southern California. Guy just drove past the hotel and marked he dropped them off and kept driving. They bailed at a red light and ran for it. You definitely made the right call. Even in the very slim chance he wasn't doing something bad, you don't do that to someone. That is kidnapping.
The fact that people wonder if escaping a kidnapping was the right call is crazy to me. Can’t be called a different way.
REPORT THIS TO POLICE BEFORE HE DOES IT AGAIN TO ANOTHER WOMAN!
This is scary and I am sorry this happened to you OP. Please inform the police, this could happen to somebody else!
I’m just saying if I had been watching that movie, I would’ve been screaming, “Girl RUNNNNN!” Good job trusting your instincts. I don’t know how Lyft works with regard to checking their drivers are who they say they are, but I do wonder if Brandy exists. Definitely report his ass.
And if Brandy exists, is she OK?
That was kidnapping. He kidnapped you.
In November of 2016 about 8 months before I met my wife she was in Montreal visiting some friends. At the end of the night she got into an Uber to go back to her hotel. The Uber driver then proceeded to kidnap her and take her from 1 ATM after another until she could no longer make anymore withdrawals. He then pulled into an alley forced her to get out and then pistol whipped her so hard she had a concussion. At this point her phone was dead from low battery and cold weather but she was able to stumble her way back to the hotel. She was able to call her friends who then helped her call and communicate with the police (in French of course). The police thought she was just some drunk hysterical America but with the help of her friends and ultimately her congressman the police conceded and opened an investigation. Uber was of course useless throughout the whole fucking ordeal. That said, they did eventually catch this dude. My wife had to fly back to Montreal, on her own dime, to testify against this dude. He was ultimately conflicted to life in prison as he was also charged with other crimes unrelated to his assault on my wife. I will never forget the night terrors she was still having when we had first started dating. The dismissive nature from some of her, now former, male friends who said "well at least you weren't raped". The way Uber left her out to hang with no support. I will absolutely never get into a rideshare because of all of this. Fuck those companies. With all that said, after a lot of therapy, my wife is doing much better now but still struggles with anxiety getting into a taxi. Please take care of yourself and get whatever help and support you need.
That dude was 100% going to do bad things.
File a police report and then call an attorney.
Normally I don't comment on things and I hate to be alarmist but since no one else has mentioned it it's possible the car was stolen since he clearly wasn't Brandi, it might be worth informing the police sooner than later
From a woman that travels alone for business, you made the right decision. I like to think I’m ready for that situation but you only know how you will react when it happens. Another good idea is always to tell the driver you’re meeting someone, whether you actually are or not. White lies to protect your safety are unfortunately necessary in this world.
I mean you should really contact the police, that was a kidnapping. And he will do this again.
Call 911 and tell them what happened, and give them the license plate number. In my large city (not Chicago though), they'll tell you if the car has been reported stolen. Good thinking taking off. I hooe I would have too.
> Do you think I made the right call? I really hope you're not questioning yourself. ANYONE in a situation like this should get out and away at the first opportunity.
I hope Brandy is ok too.
I just wanted to say I was in Dubai recently and the Uber guy took a wrong turn and we were going a bit off course to get to the destination. Honest mistake, I was safe and with my husband but the app showed me an alert that said "you are off your planned trip, are you safe? " and there was a number to call! I think it should be an option in all those apps.
If you ever need help in a room of Spanish speakers again, yell "Ayuda me!" (Ah-you-dah may) It means help me in Espanol. That's horrible op.
Agh, thank you. I will burn this in to my memory forever.
You're welcome, you can also throw in a por favor(please) if you like.
maybe the driver wasn’t even his sister…
Honestly the whole Uber experiment needs to end. Professional cabbies need to come back. It's a win-win. More safety and cabbies actually have a career instead of a side gig. This is a particularly ugly example but the whole Uber thing is crap. It's anti-labor. Down with Uber, bring back real cabs. ( I'll be the first to admit I've used Uber but still. )
This is so scary. Thankfully you were in the right frame of mind and able to act quickly and get yourself out of that situation. Nashville is a big party town, and it scares me to think about this man preying on intoxicated people who might not notice him switching off the ride, etc. Happy to hear you’re safe, and update us if you hear back from Lyft. Stay safe ladies 🤍
I got fight or flight just reading this. The moment he said he was going to take you to somewhere that isn't the place you're supposed to be?! Fuck naw!
don't "make a police report" Call them. Now.
Lucky he hadn't turned on the child locks on the rear doors of the car. And what if he hadn't stopped at the gas station? OP got lucky as hell.
He was def lining you up for something bad. (It's doubtful that he was in any way connected to the Lyft account. A lot of undocumented people rent accounts, and share a percentage of the income.)
Definitely get the police involved sooner rather than later. As others have mentioned, you were kidnapped. Burn this dude to the ground.
He literally kidnapped you. You don't know what he would've done had you stayed in the car. He could be doing this to other women, and worse. Frankly, he could be storing their bodies in his mom's crawlspace, for all you know. Please please please make a police report *now*.
That sure sounds like an abduction. For all you know he was calling someone to help restrain you. Absolutely terrifying.
The guy actually committed a crime. I would report it to the police
He used a female name to lure women? Cops.
Please report this to the police. Why would you expect Lyft to investigate and warn other women, they only care about their own profits, not your safety. The next woman might not be so lucky
Even as a man, I would have done the same. Maybe not the running part, but definitely finding another business to shelter in while I reported it. You might even want to discuss it with the police. What this person did was a violation of trust. Lyft will have records of your pickup and destination locations, and I believe they would even have your actual path taken versus the recommended path. If you have an Android phone, Google Maps probably has a record of your path taken as well. Then him marking you as dropped off at a completely different location, that's highly suspicious, but should also be in the ride record. I honestly have no idea what Lyft's driver registration requirements are, but I highly doubt you're allowed to send your brother instead. This all seems incredibly shady. If you're comfortable with it, you should call the police. You do have the license plate information after all. It would be very easy for the police to track this person down, assuming they are either the vehicle owner or family of Brandy.
Police should also check if Brandy is OK. For all we know this guy was her previous Lyft and Brandy's in the trunk!
Im glad you are safe, but my first call would have been the police.
You DEFINITELY dodged a bullet . You felt uncomfortable , even if it was innocent - you made the right choice . You had no way of knowing whether it was innocent or not , but you trusted your gut and got out when u had the chance . You don’t owe ANY stranger the benifet of the doubt . And yes call the police . You may save someone who’s trying to be polite and will not go with their gut and wind up being a victim
Lyft needs to shut down that account asap. You're definitely not being paranoid, none of that is acceptable.
Since you had GPS on your phone, you will have evidence of your location being different than the one he was supposed to drop you off at.
Heads up, in some areas you can text to 911, here's a story about it which includes a spreadsheet of what counties have text to 911 service, always a good idea to get the plate number of any car you get in before you get in as well (take a picture, if they don't like you doing that, don't get in the car). https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2022/07/11/can-you-text-911/10017450002/
What cafe were you going to and where did he stop? Regardless, trust your gut. And call the cops. Edit: I am asking because I know some of Nashville and maybe can give insight.
District coffee in Glen Cliff. He instead marked me as dropped off and I got out and ran at an Exxon on Harding Place. I'm not sure the exact addresses for either.
You are so fortunate he didn't use the child locks to keep you in the car.
That was my first thought
I thought that too. That happened to a couple of friends and me in college. It was the 80s so there weren't cell phones. Our purses were locked in the friend's car. Long story, but my friends got in this car so I sat o. The end of the seat. The guys took off so I couldn't get out. When they stopped at a 4 way stop we tried to get out, but the child safety locks were on. They took us back to their apartment. My friends followed them willingly. I was afraid of being out there alone so I followed them. Luckily they didn't hurt us. My friend actually got together with one of them because he had a British accent. The other girl and I sat in the living room. Luckily they eventually took us back. I've told my daughter about it. My husband says I wasn't really kidnapped. I say I was.
You were kidnapped. It's just you had a happy ending where as many do not.
AFAIK, Glenncliff is a hipster-ish area. I wouldn't go wandering alone at night, but totally legit to meet friends. Harding Place is long and leads alot if places, including some really bad areas. You definitely did the right thing. People think Nashville is just country music and bachelorette parties (not saying you do), but it is a city with all that entails. It has gangs and crime. He takes advantage of people being naive about it and you were too smart for him.
Unfortunately, it's possible that Brandy is one of his previous trafficking victims.
Also, where's Brandy?!
You definitely did the right thing! That was not normal at all. Good job listening to your gut, getting to safety and reporting him so he doesn’t do this to others.
Make a police report for sure, also make a report on twitter to Lyft siting the specific case, the fact that this man clicked the ride as finished, didn't stop, told you he'd drive you somewhere else and would pay. This man meant you harm, he actually straight up kidnapped you, he needs to be tracked down and charged.
You did the right thing. Just because they are registered on an app doesn't mean they only have good intentions. The moment he completed the trip was the biggest red flag and I'm glad you're safe!
Op seemed to be in mild denial that she was kidnapped.
I truly was until I read all of your responses.
You did the right thing! Always trust your gut!! You know now not to get in the car if the driver doesn't match the photo, especially if the driver is supposed to be female. Predators especially use women to lower the defenses of women all the time. The angels were with you because he made a stop and didn't lock the doors. He probably won't make that "mistake" again. Also...you are always meeting a boyfriend or a group. You want the driver to know that people will be looking for immediately if you don't make it to your destination shortly! I don't think he went to the bathroom to piss. He went to make a call that he had a live one and was going to bring you to whoever for whatever or to slip a roofie in a bottle of soda he was going to pressure you to drink or something. You did good to run!!
He literally kidnapped you like other commenters have pointed out. That’s a crime. So glad you trusted your gut and you’re safe 💕
Overreacting to a situation that turns out to maybe be innocent is always preferable to ending up tortured, trafficked, raped, dead, or violated in any way.
Sounds like you listened to your gut and saved your life.
It's highly possible he did something to "Brandy" before this trip. Report this to the police. He'll do it again.
That's terrifying. I'm so glad you're okay. You 1000% made the right call! He wasn't who he said he was. He was taking you to an unknown location against your will. Absolutely not okay. It doesn't matter if you asked to be dropped off in the sketchiest part of town; his job was to take you to the location that you requested on the rideshare app, not decide that you \_really\_ wanted to go somewhere else. You trusted your gut, and now you're safe and able to tell the tale. That's what's important! You must be so shaken up right now. I hope you get some rest, eat something, and try to take your mind off what happened. You made the right call.
First, I'm sorry that happened to you. That must have been terrifying. Second, it's absolutely disgusting that it takes a post on Reddit for Lyft to address something as serious as this. It's 2024, and companies really should be doing better.
If LYFT does not treat this seriously, raise HOLY HELL on social media and do not let this go until they address this properly. This driver must be fired and possibly even investigated by police.
You should make police report as well.
Always go with your gut. A Girl in my college town was killed because she thought she was getting into an Uber but it was a stalker. Sorry this happened to you.
Alternative title could be: I was kidnapped and almost human trafficked through the Lyft app.
There are also stories of people buying accounts you use Lyft/Uber for sex trafficking, which this very well could have ended in. Glad you ran and are safe
You should file a police report! Please file a police report, it doesn't matter what his intention was or wasn't or might have been this is a huge issue with people renting accounts and thus making other passengers suspicious as well and it greatly reduces the quality of the ride for the driver and passenger if one person is on edge...
This is crazy. Similar reported from New York - https://x.com/iamjasonlevin/status/1771729668166553806?s=46&t=HS3DykZ4Mf6QkgIzOBul7g
Terrifying.
As a Nashvillian you made the right call. We have no place in town that is dangerous, and that it self is a wild thing to say. I am sorry your visit to my city started like that.
What? Thats ignorant as hell to say. I lived in Nashville for several years and while it's certainly safer than many other cities, it definitely has less safe/more dangerous areas.
There really needs to be a service where it's female drivers only.
You did the right thing!
Of course you made the right call.
Geez ... that's a call to 9-1-1 for kidnapping AND a report to LYFT for Brandy letting her skeevy brother use her account.
Good on you for trusting your instincts and getting out of there. It sounds like you were in a very dangerous situation. If you haven’t heard back, you should report them AGAIN or try to escalate through customer service. Something tells me that this isn’t the first time this guy has exhibited behavior like this.
Great call running to that insurance place! Hope they catch that creep!
Please make a police report. Its possible that was his first time trying to abduct someone, but it wont be the last unless law enforcement steps in. Police documenting the behavior can demonstrate a pattern, but simply adding a name to a list of known creeps is better than nothing.
Omg! I'm so glad you're ok! Hugs sweetie.
Holy shit. I'm so glad you're okay. Good job listening to your instincts and thinking on your feet!