{"id":20856,"date":"2025-12-17T23:21:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20856"},"modified":"2025-12-17T23:21:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:21:35","slug":"phv-driver-tells-off-suspected-scammer-grab-bans-customer-and-reminds-driver-to-be-respectful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=20856","title":{"rendered":"PHV driver tells off suspected scammer, Grab bans customer and reminds driver to be respectful"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<h2>PHV driver rejected suspected scam booking that asked him to buy items from 7-Eleven<\/h2>\n<p>A private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver said that he received an official warning from Grab after responding \u201cKiss my a**\u201d to a suspected scam booking.<\/p>\n<p>The 52-year-old driver, who declined to be named, told MS News about the incident. He alleged that the customer asked him to purchase items from a 7-Eleven outlet in Bugis.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682864\" style=\"width: 388px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682864\" class=\"size-full wp-image-682864 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Message-reply.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"378\" height=\"556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Message-reply.jpg 378w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Message-reply-102x150.jpg 102w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 378px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 378\/556;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682864\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot courtesy of <em>MS News<\/em> reader<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>PHV driver asked to buy items from 7-Eleven, deliver them to hotel<\/h3>\n<p>At about 9pm on 10 Dec, the driver accepted a booking from a user account under the name \u201cLucas patryk\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682874\" style=\"width: 380px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682874\" class=\"wp-image-682874 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Fare-location.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"370\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Fare-location.jpg 370w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Fare-location-99x150.jpg 99w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 370px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 370\/560;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682874\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot courtesy of MS News reader<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The pick-up point was a 7-Eleven outlet along Arab Street, and the drop-off was Hotel Boss in Jalan Sultan \u2014 a distance of merely 460m.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682863\" style=\"width: 377px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682863\" class=\"size-full wp-image-682863 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Call-booking.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"367\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Call-booking.jpg 367w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Call-booking-344x600.jpg 344w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Call-booking-86x150.jpg 86w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 367px) 100vw, 367px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 367px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 367\/640;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682863\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot courtesy of <em>MS News<\/em> reader<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, shortly before reaching the pick-up point, he received a call from the user, asking him if he had read his message.<\/p>\n<p>When the driver checked his messages, he found that the user had requested for him to buy two unspecified items \u201curgently\u201d from the 7-11 outlet and deliver them to the hotel, even offering him an extra S$80 for the task.<\/p>\n<p>Sensing something was amiss, the driver said he wanted to cancel the ride, but the user called again to insist that he purchase the items.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682614\" style=\"width: 394px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682614\" class=\"size-full wp-image-682614 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/121225-PHV-incident-Message-request-pic.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"384\" height=\"586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/121225-PHV-incident-Message-request-pic.jpg 384w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/121225-PHV-incident-Message-request-pic-98x150.jpg 98w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 384px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 384\/586;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682614\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot courtesy of <em>MS News<\/em> reader<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>PHV driver cancels suspected scam booking<\/h3>\n<p>Suspecting it was a scam, the driver responded that he would do it and pulled over briefly outside the 7-Eleven.<\/p>\n<p>But instead he messaged the user, telling him:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Kiss my a**, stupid scammer. Don\u2019t waste our time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He then cancelled the booking.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t<iframe id=\"answers-client-6942c575f06e9\" class=\"answers-client\" src=\"\" height=\"500\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>However, after he reported the suspected scam booking to Grab, he received a warning for making \u201cinappropriate remarks\u201d to a user, he claimed.<\/p>\n<h3>Suspected scam booking bore several red flags<\/h3>\n<p>Explaining why he suspected it was a scam booking, the driver told <em>MS News<\/em> that it bore several red flags.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, the user opted for cash payment.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the user\u2019s request made little sense given that the hotel had its own convenience options nearby.<\/p>\n<p>The driver was not sure exactly what the customer had asked him to buy, as he had cancelled the call. \u201cLikely top-up cards or maybe game cards on credit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He said a key consideration was the user\u2019s request for cash payment. The \u201cworst-case scenario\u201d for him would be buying the items, only to be ghosted after reaching the hotel. He added:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>It is not worth the risk, it is to bait desperate drivers who need money. We never know.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Similar \u2018scam bookings\u2019 previously encountered<\/h3>\n<p>The driver also pointed out that the booking was similar to those encountered by other PHV drivers, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/196663252089618\/permalink\/1378650973890834\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">warnings posted in PHV driver community groups on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These alleged scam bookings would typically involve pick-ups from convenience stores and hotels, and requests for errands.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682870\" style=\"width: 1090px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682870\" class=\"wp-image-682870 size-full lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-8d30915ff654d258-e1765625869499.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-8d30915ff654d258-e1765625869499.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-8d30915ff654d258-e1765625869499-351x600.jpg 351w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-8d30915ff654d258-e1765625869499-598x1024.jpg 598w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-8d30915ff654d258-e1765625869499-88x150.jpg 88w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-8d30915ff654d258-e1765625869499-898x1536.jpg 898w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1080px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1080\/1848;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682870\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: PROFESSIONAL PHV DRIVERS SINGAPORE:Grab, Gojek,Tada n Ryde on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>He recalled that a similar incident took place about a year ago, where a passenger requested for items to be bought from 7-Eleven to a hotel but cancelled the booking when they were challenged.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682872\" style=\"width: 924px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682872\" class=\"size-full wp-image-682872 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-86dffc7d99eba906.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"914\" height=\"1016\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-86dffc7d99eba906.png 914w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-86dffc7d99eba906-540x600.png 540w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ezgif-86dffc7d99eba906-135x150.png 135w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 914px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 914\/1016;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682872\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: PROFESSIONAL PHV DRIVERS SINGAPORE:Grab, Gojek,Tada n Ryde \u00b7 on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Checks by <em>MS News<\/em> noted that the usual hotels used for these \u201cscam bookings\u201d are Hotel Boss and Hotel 81 Kovan, with the alleged scammers using similar message formats.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682873\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682873\" class=\"size-full wp-image-682873 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/559237265_122211554582059056_3848792171225215315_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/559237265_122211554582059056_3848792171225215315_n.jpg 540w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/559237265_122211554582059056_3848792171225215315_n-338x600.jpg 338w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/559237265_122211554582059056_3848792171225215315_n-84x150.jpg 84w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 540px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 540\/960;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682873\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: PROFESSIONAL PHV DRIVERS SINGAPORE:Grab, Gojek,Tada n Ryde \u00b7 on Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>PHV driver reports incident, gets warning instead<\/h3>\n<p>The driver said he reported the suspicious account and details to Grab in the belief that it would help protect other drivers.<\/p>\n<p>But instead he received a warning from the platform for using \u201cinappropriate remarks\u201d towards a passenger, he added.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_682871\" style=\"width: 374px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-682871\" class=\"size-full wp-image-682871 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Warning.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"364\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Warning.jpg 364w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Warning-303x600.jpg 303w, https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Warning-76x150.jpg 76w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 364px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 364\/720;\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-682871\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot courtesy of MS News reader<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Though he admitted that his remarks were inappropriate, he expressed frustration that he was given a warning despite attempting to alert the company.<\/p>\n<p>He noted that he had previously heard of cases where drivers received poor ratings after refusing unreasonable requests, and this added to his concerns about how such situations are handled.<\/p>\n<h3>Professionalism not neccessary towards scammers: Driver<\/h3>\n<p>The driver, who is driving part-time, said he had been driving for Grab since 2013, when the platform was launched in Singapore.<\/p>\n<p>While he agreed that PHV drivers need to be professional, especially towards tourists, to boost Singapore\u2019s reputation, but added:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>However, towards scammers, I believe that professionalism does not need to be involved\u2026 Or else we will be deemed by them as a pushover.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He noted that some drivers might comply out of financial pressure, not realising they could be ghosted after making the purchases.<\/p>\n<p>By highlighting the incident, he hoped other drivers would be more alert to suspicious bookings, which he believed could put them at risk of both monetary loss and platform penalties.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImagine how much money these scammers have cheated out of people, especially the seniors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>In response to queries from <em>MS News<\/em>, Grab said that the user named \u201cLucas patryk\u201d has been banned from the platform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe take incidents involving scams on our platform very seriously,\u201d a Grab spokesperson told <em>MS News<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have measures in place to support and protect our partners, including educating them on common scam tactics and taking firm action against bad actors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>MS News<\/em> understands that this includes informing their partners about the scam tactic through regular in-app messages and posts on Grab\u2019s official Telegram community groups and social media.<\/p>\n<p>Partners are advised to report any suspicious encounters through the in-app Help Centre via the Grab Driver app.<\/p>\n<p>The Grab spokesperson also added that they addressed the driver-partner\u2019s use of inappropriate language on GrabChat.<\/p>\n<p>The spokesperson said the company has reminded the driver of Grab\u2019s expectations for respectful communication on the platform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will continue to strengthen our safeguards and education efforts to help our partners stay vigilant and safe,\u201d said the Grab spokesperson.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/grabfood-rider-scammed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GrabFood Rider Allegedly Scammed Into Paying For Missing Food, User Gets Banned<\/a><br \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"HcwsZFhmjr\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/grabfood-rider-scammed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GrabFood Rider Allegedly Scammed Into Paying For Missing Food, User Gets Banned<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cGrabFood Rider Allegedly Scammed Into Paying For Missing Food, User Gets Banned\u201d \u2014 MS News - Independent News For Singaporeans\" src=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/grabfood-rider-scammed\/embed\/#?secret=YpcDmgZbz9#?secret=HcwsZFhmjr\" data-secret=\"HcwsZFhmjr\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-entry\">\n<p><em>Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/phv-driver-scam-booking\/mailto:news@mustsharenews.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news@mustsharenews.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image courtesy of MS News reader.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 --><\/p><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js?ver=6.8.3#xfbml=1&amp;version=v3.2\" id=\"facebook-js\"><\/script><script>\n!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\nn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\nif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\nn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\nt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\ns.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\nfbq('init', '1213643350275810');\nfbq('track', 'PageView');\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/mustsharenews.com\/phv-driver-scam-booking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PHV driver rejected suspected scam booking that asked him to buy items from 7-Eleven A private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver said that he received an official&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}