There’s no denying that Uber, for all of its scandals and controversies, is cheap, fast and convenient: you can summon a car at just a click of a button, as well as pay/tip via your smartphone.

However, while Uber does screen its drivers, there are still risks to accepting rides from strangers – something which Lili Reinhart discovered when she was approached by a man posing as an Uber professional.

“I was just ushered to a car by someone posing to be an airport cab/Uber driver,” Reinhart tweeted.

Thankfully, though, the actor – who portrays Betty in Netflix’s Riverdale – quickly realised something was wrong.

“I got to his car and there were absolutely no signs that he was a professional service driver,” she said, “so I did NOT get into the car.”

Issuing a warning to all of her followers, Reinhart advised: “Please pay attention and make smart decisions out there.”

In a second tweet, Reinhart later added: “Seriously… please be careful out there. You don’t have to be nice or worry about being rude.

“Trust your gut. It could save you.”

Of course, it should go without saying that we are not responsible for preventing crimes committed against us: the onus is always on the perpetrators. However, there are several things we can do to prioritise our own safety when ordering a ride.

On its website, Uber advises that all of its users check their ride before getting into a car.

“Every time you take a trip with Uber, please make sure you’re getting into the right car with the right driver by matching the license plate, car make and model, and driver photo with what’s provided in your app,” the company has said. 

“Uber trips can only be requested through the app, so never get in a car where the vehicle or driver identity doesn’t match what’s displayed in your app.”

The company also advises that you “ask the driver to confirm your name” before getting in the car. And, like Reinhart, they have asked that riders follow their intuition, too.

“Trust your instincts and use your best judgment when riding with Uber,” the company has said.

“If you ever feel that you’re in an urgent situation, you can call emergency services by using the emergency button located in your app. Any time you call emergency services from the Uber app, the app provides you with your real-time location and trip details that you can share with the dispatcher.”

Image: Getty