Hyderabad: A woman content creator has shared a video alleging that an unidentified man approached her near Charminar at around 9 pm on Saturday and offered her a ride while claiming to be associated with Rapido. The incident has since drawn attention online, with the woman questioning the man’s identity and asking him to show his driver credentials.
Woman questions man over Rapido claim
According to Siddeshwari Sugandh, she was waiting for her car near Charminar when a man riding a scooter approached her and asked where she was going and whether she needed a drop.
In the video shared by Siddeshwari, the man can be heard asking, “Aapko Rapido chaiye kya madam?” — suggesting that he was offering a Rapido ride.
Rather than accepting the offer, Siddeshwari immediately questioned whether he was an authorised Rapido driver. She asked him to show his driver identification and also pointed out that the scooter did not appear to have a visible vehicle registration number.
The woman said the man did not immediately produce an identification document. Instead, he appeared to start downloading the Rapido application from the Google Play Store.
This further raised her suspicion, as she continued asking him to establish whether he was genuinely associated with the ride-hailing platform.
Man gives another explanation
The man reportedly identified himself as Irfan during the exchange. When Siddeshwari continued to insist that he show his identification, he allegedly said, “Gaadi chalu nahi ho rahi hai,” meaning that his vehicle was not starting.
The response prompted Siddeshwari to question why he was offering her a ride if the vehicle was supposedly not functioning.
The confrontation was captured on video and later shared online. At one point, Siddeshwari is seen taking the phone from the man, where she reportedly noticed that the screen was showing the page for entering an OTP.
She then questioned him about his identity and asked for his full name.
The exchange became increasingly tense, with the woman firmly telling the man to leave the area. She could also be heard questioning what he was trying to do on the road.
The video has prompted discussions about the importance of verifying the identity of ride-hailing drivers, particularly when approached by someone claiming to represent a popular transport platform without providing proper identification.
Woman says she trusts Rapido
Siddeshwari also took care to clarify that her concerns were directed at the individual involved and not at Rapido as a company.
She said she generally prefers using Rapido, particularly at night, because she feels more secure when travelling through a recognised ride-hailing service. According to her, safety checks and the ability to make calls through the service contribute to that sense of security.
In her social media post, she specifically stated that she was not blaming Rapido or suggesting that the incident occurred because of the company.
Her comments indicate that her concern was about an individual allegedly presenting himself as a Rapido driver without establishing that he was actually authorised to provide the service.
Incident highlights importance of checking ride details
The incident also highlights the precautions passengers can take before entering a cab, auto-rickshaw or two-wheeler booked through an app.
Passengers are generally advised to check the driver’s name, photograph, vehicle registration number and other trip details displayed on the booking application before beginning a journey. If the details do not match the person or vehicle present at the pickup point, passengers can choose not to proceed.
A passenger who is approached by someone claiming to be a driver without a corresponding booking should also avoid sharing personal information or an OTP.
In the incident described by Siddeshwari, the absence of a visible vehicle number and the man’s failure to immediately provide identification were among the factors that made her question the offer.
Video sparks online safety discussion
The video has attracted attention because of the unusual interaction between the woman and the man. Rather than accepting the unsolicited offer, she questioned the individual and attempted to establish whether he was genuinely connected to the platform.
However, as the identity and intentions of the man have not been independently established from the information available, the allegations should be treated with caution. The video alone does not establish whether he was attempting to impersonate a Rapido driver or had any criminal intention.
The incident nevertheless serves as a reminder for passengers to remain cautious when approached by unknown people offering rides, especially at night. Using the official booking process, checking vehicle and driver details and avoiding sharing OTPs are important precautions.
For ride-hailing companies as well, incidents involving alleged impersonation can raise concerns about passenger confidence and the need for users to be able to quickly distinguish authorised drivers from individuals making unsolicited offers.
Siddeshwari’s account has therefore sparked a broader conversation about personal safety while using app-based transport and the importance of verifying a driver’s identity before getting into a vehicle.