Yahaya Mohammed, the Nigeria Country Manager at Bolt, has addressed the recent surge in fake ride requests and cancellations affecting the platform in Nigeria and South Africa.
Mohammed spoke to ARISE News on Friday, outlining the company’s response to the problem that has caused significant disruptions for drivers and users alike.
Last week, Bolt, a popular ride-hailing service, faced a troubling increase in fake ride requests and cancellations. This issue has led to drivers making long trips for rides that turn out to be non-existent or fake.
In one notable case, a driver in South Africa drove 50 kilometres to pick up a passenger, only to find out the request was not legitimate.
Mohammed explained the gravity of the situation and the steps Bolt is taking to address it. “This issue was brought to our attention early in the morning through various messages,” he said. “We took immediate action to find a solution.”
He added that Bolt had implemented several measures to combat the rise in fake ride requests. Mohammed highlighted that the company is blocking accounts involved in fraudulent activities and is working to prevent future occurrences.
“We track high volumes of orders that are made but not completed, especially those that are placed across countries,” Mohammed explained. “By monitoring these patterns, we can identify and block the sources of fake requests.”
Additionally, Bolt is restricting IP addresses associated with fake bookings. “We restrict IP addresses from both Nigeria and South Africa that are found to be involved in these fraudulent activities,” he added.
Mohammed also addressed the concerns of drivers who have been affected by these fake requests. “Drivers have the option to set a minimum distance for accepting rides,” he said.
“We recommend a minimum of 2 kilometers, with 4 kilometers being a more practical limit. If a request exceeds this distance significantly, like 50 kilometers, drivers should not be obliged to accept it.”
Bolt is considering compensation for drivers who have incurred losses due to fake requests. Mohammed mentioned that the company is analyzing the situation to determine possible compensation for wasted trips.
“We are looking into whether there is room for compensation based on the distance and time wasted,” he said. “We will communicate the details to the drivers in the coming days.”
Bolt encourages international ride bookings, a feature that has been well-received by users in various countries. However, the recent abuse of this feature has raised concerns.
“We are available in 50 countries, and this feature has been useful for many users,” Mohammed noted. “However, due to the recent misuse, we are revising how we handle international bookings.”
The company plans to implement more restricted access to international ride requests to prevent abuse. “Going forward, we will have more stringent controls on international feeds, especially in Nigeria and South Africa,” he said.
“We are continuously working to refine our systems and processes to ensure that such problems do not recur,” Mohammed stated. “Our goal is to create a safe and reliable environment for both drivers and passengers.”
