Grab / Gojek Driver Cancel-and-Overcharge Scam
A recurring scam across Southeast Asia rideshare apps: Grab (Thailand + Vietnam + Malaysia + Singapore + Philippines) and Gojek (Indonesia). A driver accepts your ride, calls or WhatsApps you, tries to convince you to CANCEL the app booking and pay cash "off-app" — usually claiming meter issues, technical problems, or that his price is better. The cash price is always 2-3x the app price + you lose all app protections (tracking, receipt, dispute).
How the scam works
- 1You book a Grab/Gojek ride via app. Driver accepts.
- 2Driver calls or WhatsApps you within 60 seconds: "Sir, my meter/app is broken. Cancel your ride, I take you for 500 baht cash direct." (App price was 180 baht)
- 3If you agree: driver charges 2-3x app rate. No receipt, no app tracking, no dispute mechanism if he drops you at the wrong place
- 4If you refuse: driver cancels the ride himself, forcing you to re-book (often with the same driver charging a higher app price with surge)
- 5Variant: driver arrives + demands cash payment despite app payment being set up
- 6Aggressive variant: driver charges the app THEN demands cash "for the tip" at destination
Red flags — how to spot it early
- ⚠Driver contacting you immediately after accepting ride
- ⚠Any claim about "app problem" or "meter issue"
- ⚠Offering a "better price" for cash payment
- ⚠Refusing to start the trip in the app
- ⚠At destination: demanding cash despite app payment being complete
How to avoid it
- REFUSE the cancel-and-cash offer. Say: "I need the app receipt for expenses. Please start the ride in the app or I'll cancel."
- Ensure you have app payment method (credit card) set up so driver knows there's no cash to be extracted
- Rate 1-star + report driver via app after any attempt. Grab/Gojek do actually deactivate repeat offenders
- For airport pickup specifically: request "pickup point" (Grab feature) rather than "meet at arrivals" — reduces driver ability to game the ride
- If driver cancels on you: report the cancellation reason. If pattern emerges, Grab refunds cancellation fees
If it happens to you
- →Do NOT cancel your app ride at driver's request. Insist on app-tracked ride.
- →If driver demands cash at end despite app payment: refuse politely, get out, report via app immediately
- →Take photo of driver ID + plate before leaving vehicle
- →File 1-star rating + detailed complaint via app within 24 hours
- →For persistent issue: escalate to Grab/Gojek customer service via app help section
Documented in the wild
- ·Recurring pattern documented on r/Bangkok + r/HCMC + r/Jakarta + Grab customer service records 2020-2026
- ·Grab Thailand issued formal warnings against this practice in 2023 — driver deactivations increased 40%
- ·Airport pickups + late-night rides have highest incidence
Frequently asked
Is it OK to cancel Grab and take cash if driver asks?
NO. This loses all app protections (tracking, receipt, dispute) + you always pay 2-3x more. If driver insists: cancel via app + rate 1-star + re-book. It's a mild inconvenience vs the risk of scammed pricing + no tracked ride.
What if the driver actually has a broken meter?
The Grab app doesn't use meters — pricing is calculated by the app itself. There's no meter to break. Any claim about meter issues is scam pretext.
How much SHOULD Grab from Bangkok airport cost?
BKK Suvarnabhumi to Sukhumvit central: 400-700 THB via Grab (compared to 500-700 metered taxi). BKK to Silom: 500-800 THB. If driver quotes 800-1,500 THB cash, that's the scam.
Does 1-star rating actually work?
Yes — Grab has stated publicly they deactivate drivers with recurring 1-star ratings + reported scam attempts. Not always fast, but the aggregate reporting does force accountability. Rate every scam attempt.