In an effort to protect the integrity of its platform, ride-hailing company Bolt has taken measures to address a recent surge in fraudulent activity.
The company has blocked several accounts linked to a series of fake ride requests, which have been reported amidst escalating tensions between Nigerians and South Africans.
In an effort to ease tensions between Nigeria and South Africa, ride-hailing company Bolt has restricted inter country ride requests.
This move comes after reports emerged on Thursday of citizens from both nations engaging in a social media feud, which escalated to prank orders on Bolt and Uber platforms.
The prank orders were intended to frustrate and retaliate against one another, highlighting the need for measures to calm the situation.
“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,” Techcabal quoted Yahaya Mohammed, Bolt’s country manager for Nigeria.
Screenshots have been circulating on social platform X, showcasing a trend where users on Bolt, primarily in Nigeria and South Africa, request rides in either country and then promptly cancel them after drivers accept the requests.
This trend has been highlighted by several accounts on the platform, exposing a pattern of ride requests being made with no intention of using the service.
This situation started when an X user wrote: “South Africans are ordering Bolt in Nigeria, all the way from SA and cancelling when the rider gets to the pick up location.
“According to them, Nigeria’s currency is weak, ‘they’ can’t pay cancellation fees.”
“Next they want to start reporting fake crimes to police lines,” the user captioned a viral video showing a South African man deliberately frustrating Bolt rider from Nigeria.
“Just saw three guys on my street ordering bolt from South Africa. They are not even screenshotting or posting, just doing it for the love of the game,” a user, Ayo said.
“South Africans have no idea what they’ve started,” Ayo added.
In response, Nigerians began ordering rides in South Africa as a form of retaliation, but with no intention of actually using the service.
This prank ordering trend emerged as a counter move to the initial cancellations, further escalating the online feud between the two nations.
A user, Oyiga Micheal wrote: “South Africans started this challenge where they’ll order bolt from Lagos to spite Nigerians.
“Nigerians countered and started Ordering bolt and pay on delivery items to get back to them.”
“South Africans are cruel with the Bolt thing they started, but you know what is also cruel? The Nigerians retaliating, because you know who is suffering at the end of the day? Innocent people trying to feed their families,” another Nigerian user added.
A user, Basito also shared a clip of a South African Driver who wanted to cry after he was pranked by a Nigerian.
(SaharaReporters)
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