Using Rideshare In Saratoga Springs? Police Warning Issued

When you go out it's convenient and safer to use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. But Saratoga Springs police want you to make sure the ride you are getting into is a legit service.

If you plan to use a rideshare service in Saratoga Springs, the police want to inform you of a scam. They want you to make sure you are hopping into the right car.

There have been reports of people pretending to be rideshare drivers, taking money without using the official apps especially in downtown Saratoga Springs and near the Saratoga Race Course.

On August 1st, the police looked into some complaints and wound up arresting 32-year-old Najeebullah Afghan from Schenectady. According to the police, Afghan was taking money from people even though he’s not an Uber or Lyft driver, and he’s not registered to operate a taxi in the city. He’s now facing charges of second-degree criminal impersonation and violating the city’s taxi licensing rules.

In a related case, 65-year-old Francis Egan from Saratoga Springs was given a ticket for violating city code because he wasn’t registered as a taxi driver. The police say he also took money from people despite not being authorized to do so.

Lieutenant Paul Veitch, the public information officer for the police department, stressed the importance of confirming your driver’s identity before getting into any vehicle. He stated,

Only use the driver you matched with on the app, make sure they really are the ride you ordered, and don’t get in the car unless you’ve confirmed it’s your ride.

Veitch also recommended checking out the safety guidelines provided by your rideshare service to be extra cautious.