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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Robert Fairnie

Uber launch investigation after mystery driver attempted to pick up woman in Edinburgh

Uber has launched an investigation after a mystery driver attempted to pick up a woman in Edinburgh's city centre.

Lorna Fraser, who is from Fife, has vowed never to use the company again following the alarming incident earlier this month.

She told Edinburgh Live that she booked a ride to take her, along with her boyfriend and his son, from St Andrew Square to Edinburgh Zoo on the morning of Saturday, 1 February.

However the person who showed up to provide the lift didn't match the driver details provided on the app, and she cancelled the trip immediately.

Lorna (40), who works for Sky in London, said: "I was checking my phone so I knew the driver, the car make and registration to look out for.

"When the car arrived I could see that the registration and driver were different from on the app. He [the driver] knew my name too, so that put me on edge straight away.

"I wouldn't get in the car so I cancelled the trip straight away. They charged me for it at first but I've been refunded since.

"There certainly seems to be an issue with the way the data is used. I do regularly use apps, especially when I'm in London as it just seems much easier, but I won't be using Uber again after this."

She added: "I didn't think too much of it at first, but when I posted about it on social media a lot of people were telling me to take it further, and speak to Edinburgh Licensing."

An Uber spokeswoman said: "There is nothing more important that the safety of everyone who uses the Uber app and we are currently investigating this incident.

"All drivers must hold a valid private hire license from their local authority and must go through an enhanced background check before they are able to use the Uber app."

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