Unlike the millions of Americans who use apps such as Uber and Lyft and arrive at their desired locations, some riders in Baltimore found themselves unexpectedly shuttled to ATMs where they were robbed, police said. Police are investigating the criminal phenomenon in cooperation with ride-share companies and federal agencies.
Police are looking into “a string of robberies involving suspects using Ride Share apps to carjack the drivers and then use the app to pick up victims and either rob them via Cash App or drive them to ATMs,” a spokeswoman for the Baltimore Police Department told McClatchy News. Several arrests have been made, and some ride-share payments have been reversed, according to the spokeswoman. “The reported attacks are horrifying,” a spokesperson for Uber told McClatchy News, who also noted the company is working closely with law enforcement on the matter. “We encourage users to cancel trips if they don’t feel safe and remind riders to always double-check the details of their ride.”
Eric L. Piza, Ph.D. 