Ride-hailing app Bolt has blocked numerous accounts involved in a growing trend of fake ride requests, where users request rides only to cancel them after a driver accepts. This disruptive practice has been primarily observed in Nigeria and South Africa.
To combat the issue, Bolt has also implemented restrictions on intercountry ride requests between the two nations, where the trend has been most prevalent.
The situation gained attention after several users on the social platform X shared screenshots showcasing the trend. In these instances, Bolt users in either Nigeria or South Africa would request a ride in one country and cancel it shortly after a driver accepted, leading to wasted time and resources.
The motivations behind the trend remain unclear, though it appears to be a form of internet trolling.
“We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa. We are committed to ensuring a safe, reliable, and secure experience for all members of our community,” said Yahaya Mohammed, Bolt’s Nigeria Country Manager.
One driver in Cape Town shared his frustration with TechCabal: “I drove from Cape Town to Stellenbosch to pick up a customer, only to realize it was a fake request. That’s almost 50 kilometers worth of fuel gone because of internet jokes.”
Since Bolt does not reimburse drivers for fuel spent on canceled rides, many drivers have started refusing long-distance requests until Bolt addresses the issue.
The company has promised to continue monitoring the situation and take further action if necessary to protect its driver-partners and ensure the reliability of its service.
