Bolt, the popular ride-hailing app, has taken action by blocking several accounts involved in a disturbing trend of requesting fake rides and cancelling them after a driver has accepted.
The company has also imposed restrictions on intercountry ride requests in an effort to curb the issue, which has primarily affected users in Nigeria and South Africa.
The trend, which gained attention on Thursday, was highlighted by several accounts on the social media platform X. Users in Nigeria and South Africa were reportedly requesting rides in one country, only to cancel them after a driver had accepted.
The motivation behind this behaviour appears to be internet trolling, though the full intent remains unclear.
In response, Yahaya Mohammed, Bolt’s Country Manager for Nigeria, emphasised the company’s commitment to protecting its driver-partners.
“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,” he said in a report by TechCabal.
According to comments on social media, the consequences of this trend have been frustrating for drivers.
Since Bolt does not compensate drivers for fuel spent on cancelled rides, some drivers have started refusing long-distance requests until the company resolves the issue.
The restrictions and account blocks are part of Bolt’s efforts to address these concerns and restore trust among its users.
