Ride-hailing platform Bolt has blocked numerous accounts involved in placing fake ride requests and subsequently canceling them once a driver accepted.
The company has also limited cross-border ride requests in response to a growing issue, particularly affecting users in Nigeria and South Africa.
On Thursday, screenshots circulated on social media showed Bolt users in both countries requesting rides, only to cancel after a driver accepted, highlighting the widespread nature of the prank.
The reasons behind this trend remain unclear, seemingly driven by internet trolling.
“We recognize the inconvenience this has caused our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa. Our priority is to provide a safe, reliable, and secure experience for everyone,” said Yahaya Mohammed, Bolt’s Nigeria Country Manager.
One driver based in Cape Town shared with TechCabal, “I drove nearly 50 kilometers from Cape Town to Stellenbosch for what turned out to be a fake ride request—just an online joke.”
As Bolt does not cover fuel expenses for canceled rides, some drivers have opted to avoid long-distance trips until the company resolves the issue.
We reported yesterday how Nigerians and South Africans clash in Bolt ordering battle
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