Fake Rapido Driver Confronted Near Charminar by Content Creator Siddeshwari Sugandh

Hyderabad content creator Siddeshwari Sugandh reported a tense encounter near Charminar on Saturday night after a man falsely claiming to be a Rapido driver approached her on a scooter and offered an unbooked ride. Sugandh confronted the individual after noticing his vehicle lacked a displayed registration number and he was unable to provide driver identification.

The incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m. while Sugandh was standing near Charminar waiting for an auto-rickshaw. A man riding a scooter approached her and offered to drop her off, asking if she wanted a ride through the ride-hailing service Rapido. Sugandh immediately grew suspicious of the unsolicited approach and demanded to see his official driver credentials. She also observed that no vehicle registration number was visible on the scooter.

When pressed for identification, the man did not show any driver credentials. Instead, he began downloading the Rapido application from the Play Store on his mobile phone in front of her. Sugandh stated that seeing him download the app made her realize something was wrong with the situation.

As the confrontation continued, the man claimed his scooter was not starting. Sugandh immediately questioned why he had offered her a ride if his vehicle was not functioning properly. She then took the phone from him and noticed the screen was displaying a page requesting a One-Time Password (OTP). Sugandh asked the man to state his full name, but his answer failed to satisfy her concerns regarding his identity.

The interaction turned tense, leading Sugandh to command the man to leave the location immediately. Sugandh subsequently shared a video recording and statement about the incident on Instagram, expressing shock at the confidence with which the individual approached a woman late at night without any prior booking or platform verification.

Sugandh clarified in her post that she was not blaming Rapido for the encounter, explaining that she frequently uses the platform and prefers it at night due to its safety features and post-ride confirmation calls. She stated that her intention in sharing the video was to warn others that the man was using the company's brand name to gain her trust despite having no affiliation as a driver.

Following the publication of the video, Rapido issued a response thanking Sugandh for highlighting the event. The company urged all users to verify ride and captain details directly on the app prior to entering any vehicle. Rapido added that the OTP process required at the start of each trip is designed to ensure passengers travel safely with the correct designated driver and vehicle.