In a decisive move to safeguard its platform’s integrity, ride-hailing company Bolt has taken significant measures to curb a recent surge in fraudulent activity.
This action comes in response to escalating tensions between Nigerians and South Africans, which have sparked a wave of fake ride requests on the platform.
Bolt announced that it has blocked several accounts linked to the prank orders, which were reported amidst growing animosity between the two nations. The escalating tension has seen citizens from both countries engage in retaliatory actions, with prank orders on Bolt and Uber platforms becoming a preferred method of frustrating one another.
To address the situation and ease the tensions, Bolt has implemented a restriction on intercountry ride requests. This restriction aims to reduce the impact of the prank orders that have been fueled by a social media feud between Nigerians and South Africans.
Reports indicate that citizens from both countries have been using the platforms to place and then promptly cancel ride requests, leading to significant inconvenience for drivers.
“We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa. We are committed to ensuring a safe, reliable, and secure experience for all members of our community,” said Yahaya Mohammed, Bolt’s country manager for Nigeria, in a statement quoted by TechCabal.
Social media platform X has seen a flurry of activity, with users sharing screenshots and discussing the trend of fake ride requests.
The prank orders, initially started by South Africans targeting Nigerian drivers, quickly escalated as Nigerians began to retaliate by placing fake orders in South Africa.
One viral post highlighted the situation, with a user noting, “South Africans are ordering Bolt in Nigeria, all the way from SA, and canceling when the rider gets to the pickup location. According to them, Nigeria’s currency is weak; ‘they’ can’t pay cancellation fees.”
This sentiment was echoed by other users who expressed concern over the growing trend, noting that it has led to unnecessary frustration and loss of income for drivers in both countries. One Nigerian user shared, “Just saw three guys on my street ordering Bolt from South Africa. They are not even screenshotting or posting, just doing it for the love of the game.”
As the situation continued to spiral, both Nigerian and South African users engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of fake orders, exacerbating the tensions.
One South African driver was even captured on video expressing his frustration after being pranked by a Nigerian user, with the clip quickly gaining traction online.
The prank orders have not only highlighted the ongoing tensions between the two nations but have also underscored the need for platforms like Bolt to implement stricter measures to protect their services and the livelihoods of their drivers.
In response to the ongoing situation, Bolt has reassured its users that it is committed to taking further action if necessary to ensure that its platform remains a safe and reliable service for all.