A 52-year-old private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver faced an unusual situation on December 10, 2025. He received a booking from a user named “Lucas patryk,” with a pick-up at a 7-Eleven on Arab Street and a drop-off at Hotel Boss, just 460 metres away.
Before reaching the pick-up point, the customer called, asking if the driver had read his message. When the driver checked, he saw that the user wanted him to buy two unspecified items “urgently” from the 7-Eleven and deliver them to the hotel, offering an extra S$80.
The driver suspected a scam and told the customer, “Kiss my a**,” before cancelling the booking.
The driver noted that the booking had several warning signs:
- The customer insisted on cash payment.
- The hotel already had nearby convenience options.
- Previous similar scams involved pick-ups from convenience stores and hotels, with requests for errands like this.
He added, “It is not worth the risk, it is to bait desperate drivers who need money. We never know.”
Reporting to Grab and Platform Response
After reporting the incident to Grab, the driver received a warning for making “inappropriate remarks” to a passenger, even though the customer’s account was later banned. A Grab spokesperson said, “We take incidents involving scams on our platform very seriously. We have measures in place to support and protect our partners.”
Driver’s Take on Professionalism
The driver, who has been with Grab since 2013, said professionalism is important for tourists but not necessarily towards scammers. He explained, “However, towards scammers, I believe that professionalism does not need to be involved… Or else we will be deemed by them as a pushover.”
He hoped other drivers would stay alert to suspicious bookings, which could cause both financial loss and platform penalties. “Imagine how much money these scammers have cheated out of people, especially the seniors,” he added.
