A taxi driver in South Korea has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for running an elaborate “fake vomit” scam used to extort more than 160 drunk passengers.
According to The Independent, the 68-year-old cabbie concocted a mixture of rice porridge, soda and coffee to mimic vomit, smearing it across the seats and on passengers while they slept to make it look like they’d been sick. He would then demand a large cleaning fee — often claiming they had damaged his taxi — and in some cases even scattered broken glass to falsely allege assault.
The Seoul Northern District Court heard that the man extorted over 150 million won (around £78,500) through the scam, which finally unravelled when he tried to pull the same trick on an undercover police officer posing as a passenger. The officer secretly recorded the incident, leading to his arrest and eventual conviction for extortion, attempted extortion and false accusation.
While this particular case happened in South Korea, similar tactics have reportedly been rumoured among some UK Uber passengers — where riders claim they’ve been falsely charged for “cleaning fees” of around £80 after alleged sickness incidents that never happened. Although Uber has not confirmed widespread abuse of the system, passenger complaints on social media suggest a growing number of riders have been disputing such fees, alleging that certain drivers may exploit the policy to claim compensation.
Uber’s policy allows drivers to submit photo evidence if a passenger makes a mess in their vehicle, with cleaning fees applied automatically in some cases. The platform encourages riders to contest any charges they believe are fraudulent.
DM News Commentary
The South Korean case shows just how far some drivers will go to exploit vulnerable passengers — and highlights the importance of accountability and evidence in ride-hailing platforms. While most UK taxi and Uber drivers are honest professionals, even a few fake claims can damage public trust in the trade. Stronger verification processes for cleaning fees could help protect both passengers and genuine drivers.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, story, or anything you’d like to say, head over to DriverMatty.com — I’d love to hear from you! And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
