Singapore Police Investigate Cheating Driver Claiming To Be Affiliated To Uber

Singapore police officials are investigating reports that a man, posing as a driver working for ridesharing company Uber, cheated and overcharged passengers travelling in his vehicle. Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the vehicle was impounded on Monday and that the case is being investigated, according to The Associated Press.

Uber also posted an alert Tuesday stating that the car was not registered with the company, Channel News Asia reported. The case came to light after Joverst Lee, a user, claimed in a Facebook post that he was heavily overcharged by the driver, and filed a case with police officials on Tuesday. Kenneth Yeo, another passenger, also reportedly claimed he was overcharged by the same driver.

"LTA has received complaints against the vehicle owner and takes a serious view of the incidents," a spokesperson for the agency said, according to Channel News Asia, adding: "If found to have contravened the Road Traffic Act, which disallows private vehicles from being used for hire and reward, the offender may face possible fines, imprisonment and forfeiture of the vehicle."

Yeo complained that he was charged 168 Singaporean dollars for a journey that typically cost a maximum of 36 Singaporean dollars, by the same driver. He also said the driver used an iPhone app for a fare meter and demanded that he be paid in cash.

"Uber taxis usually charge to my credit card, therefore I assume he was able to charge to my credit card. But he explained that he is driving under Uber Executive (UberExec), which collects cash," Yeo, said, according to Channel News Asia. The driver also reportedly used the same excuse with Lee to be paid in cash.

The company, which has faced criticism for running inadequate background checks on its drivers, especially after an alleged rape in India in December, had announced last week that its database had been breached, exposing the personal data of about 50,000 of its drivers.