Police warn of fake rideshare drivers luring riders at Atlanta airport

Mar 21

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

Atlanta police are cautioning travelers at the city’s international airport to be vigilant of impostors posing as rideshare drivers. Recognized as the busiest airport globally, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport saw nearly 94 million passengers navigate its gates in 2022.

Local news station 11Alive reported several individuals, masquerading as rideshare drivers, actively soliciting rides from unsuspecting passengers. These imposters offer lower rates and accept various payment methods, but their intentions might extend beyond financial gain — potentially including human trafficking.

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The Atlanta Police Department has been engaging in undercover operations that have led to multiple arrests and citations. However, despite these efforts, travelers are still being targeted by repeat offenders.

Officials advise travelers to confirm their rideshare arrangements through official apps and to meet drivers only in designated areas. Additionally, police recommend that passengers ask drivers for the name of the person they are picking up, instead of offering their own name.

Tags: Atlanta, Georgia, Lyft, Police, Police officers, Uber

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

ATLANTA POLICE ARE WARNING VISITORS THAT ARRIVE AT THEIR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT; WATCH OUT FOR IMPOSTORS POSING AS RIDESHARE DRIVERS.

LOCAL NEWS STATION 11ALIVE — HAS UNCOVERED MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS, POSING AS RIDESHARE DRIVERS, WHO ARE ACTIVELY OFFERING RIDES TO UNSUSPECTING PASSENGERS.

THESE IMPOSTERS CLAIM TO HAVE CHEAPER RATES AND ACCEPT A VARIETY OF PAYMENT METHODS BUT MAY HAVE MOTIVES BEYOND MONETARY GAIN — INCLUDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THE ATLANTA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS THAT HAVE RESULTING IN SEVERAL ARRESTS AND CITATIONS.

DESPITE THESE EFFORTS, REPEAT OFFENDERS STILL TARGET TRAVELERS.

TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED TO VERIFY THEIR RIDESHARE BOOKINGS THROUGH OFFICIAL APPS AND MEET DRIVERS IN DESIGNATED AREAS. POLICE SUGGEST ASKING DRIVERS WHOM THEY ARE THERE TO PICK UP RATHER THAN OFFERING YOUR NAME.

THE HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD. IN 2022, IT SAW NEARLY 94 MILLION PASSENGERS PASS THROUGH ITS GATES.