Fake rideshare drivers are a real threat in DFW, especially in entertainment districts at bar close.
How to verify your ride:
- Match the license plate. The app shows it. Check BEFORE getting in.
- Match the car make, model, and color. Generic "gray sedan" isn't enough.
- Ask "What's my name?" A real driver will confirm your name without you saying it first. Never say "Are you my Uber?" — anyone can say yes.
- Check the driver's photo. The app shows their face.
- Share your trip with someone. Both Uber and Lyft have a "Share Trip" feature that sends your real-time location to a contact.
DFW hotspots for fake drivers:
- Deep Ellum (Main St/Elm St area) after midnight
- Uptown/McKinney Ave on weekend nights
- Lower Greenville on weekends
- Outside DFW Airport (use the designated rideshare pickup zone only)
If something goes wrong:
- Text 911 (available in Dallas County and Tarrant County)
- Share your live location with a friend via iMessage or Google Maps
- Ask the driver to stop and exit. You can end any ride at any time.
- Report to Uber/Lyft through the app immediately
Legal protections:
- Senate Bill 1571 (Texas, 2019) made it a Class A misdemeanor to impersonate a rideshare driver, and a 2nd-degree felony if a crime is committed during the impersonation.
Sources:
- Texas SB 1571 (86th Legislature, 2019)
- Uber Safety Toolkit (uber.com/safety)
- Lyft Safety Center (lyft.com/safety)
- DPD — rideshare safety advisory
"What's my name?" Four words that could save your life.
Hot take or facts?
A friend got into the wrong car in Deep Ellum last year. Nothing bad happened but it was terrifying. Now we always check the plate.