Rs one crore fraud on Uber through fake drivers

The company alleged that Vinay Gera tampered with the list of drivers on the company’s server and added 388 fake drivers who were not associated with Uber

Upon inquiry, the app-based taxi firm found that of the 388 fake drivers’ profiles created by Gera, 191 profiles’ IP address matched the IP address of Gera’s office computer.: Representational picture

PTI   |   Gurgaon   |   01.02.23 :  Uber has accused one of its former employees of embezzling over Rs 1 crore by sneaking fake driver profiles into the company’s list of drivers, police said on Tuesday.

The company alleged that Vinay Gera tampered with the list of drivers on the company’s server and added 388 fake drivers who were not associated with Uber.

These profiles were linked to 18 bank accounts in which the money was transferred. The Economic Offences Wing found the allegations prima facie true and an FIR was registered against Gera on Monday on its recommendation.

According to the complaint filed by Prabhanjan Kumar, the authorised signatory of Uber India Systems Private Limited, in April last year, Gera worked in the firm’s driver operations team from August to December 2021 at its Sector-44 office. He was employed by the vendor company, TeamLease Services Limited India, and had resigned from Uber on December 19, 2021. Gera was responsible for the driver arrears function.

“To avoid inconveniencing driver partners, a spreadsheet is automatically uploaded regularly. A large number of transactions were processed by this automated spreadsheet and Viney Gera was responsible for updating the details of the driver-partner accounts to be paid. Viney Gera created and placed a number of non-genuine driver partner accounts in the spreadsheet,” Uber said in its complaint.

Upon inquiry, the app-based taxi firm found that of the 388 fake drivers’ profiles created by Gera, 191 profiles’ IP address matched the IP address of Gera’s office computer.

“...A total amount of Rs 1,17,03,033 has been fraudulently paid to these fake driver,” the complaint said.