Grab Driver Claims He Was Scammed By Passenger Who Asked Him To Help Buy S$100 Xbox Gift Card

You’d think driving Grab is just about getting passengers to their destinations, but who knew it also puts drivers at risk of scams?

Earlier this week, local content creator @taxitalessg, who shares stories online about his journey as a Grab driver, took to TikTok to share that he'd been scammed.

"I really never thought this would happen to me. I've always thought who's dumb enough to get scammed? It's been a tough week," he said in his video. 

The driver shared that he received a job where the pick-up location was at a 7-Eleven store in a heartland area. The final destination was a hotel. The ride was also set to be paid through cash.

"This customer then texted me in the app, saying: 'Could you go to 7-Eleven and buy a couple of items and bring it to me. [They're] for my daughter and we'll be waiting at the hotel lobby'," he recounted.

Taxitalessg called the customer and the latter verified his intentions, even promising an S$80 tip on top of the supposed fare.

Upon reaching the 7-Eleven, the driver opened the app and saw that the items included a carton of milk and a Xbox S$100 gift card.

"It seems so stupid to me now but that was such a clear indication of a scam. I don't know, I think I was tired, I was not thinking," he said.

He, however, sent the customer and photo of the front of the gift card, thinking: "How can this be a scam if I'm just taking the front of the gift card when the back has a scratch option which I'm obviously not going to scratch before I give it to the customer."

But when he was on his way to the location, the customer texted to say that his daughter wanted to change the card. 

"That was when something snapped in me and I realised I was getting scammed," he said. "By then it was too late 'cos I had already purchased the gift card."

When the driver tried to call the customer, the latter accused him of shouting and said that he is not going to complete the transaction as he feels threatened.

The customer then proceeded to demand for extremely clear photos of the back of the card, and said that he would not be paying until he gets the photos.

Exasperated, the driver decided to call the Grab team, who then advised him to file an incident report.

"It's a cash payment as well, so they didn't even pay for the ride. I have to pay for the ride because what happens through the app is that they'll have to deduct the amount through the app from me and I'd have to collect the money from the customer," he explained.

"Not only do I not earn the money and there's the opportunity cost of the time wasted plus petrol, I actually lose money. I have to pay Grab the compensation for the commission."

While Grab would hopefully reimburse the driver for the ride eventually, he noted that it's still "S$100 down the drain" for the gift card.

"So does anybody want an Xbox gift card? I'll sell it for S$50 bucks," he laughed. "I'm not trying to scam you, if that's what you're thinking".

Many have since taken to the comments to express bewilderment over the scam tactic, with others responding that the scammers are merely trying to get the bar code of the card.

A netizen also shared that this is a common scam that has been circulating in PHV Facebook groups while a few fellow drivers commented that they have experienced the same issue.

"I spent $300 on the gift card, made a police report. There goes my hard-earned money, lesson learnt," wrote one driver.