A sales manager from Gurugram has alleged that she was briefly trapped inside an Uber cab after a driver reportedly activated the child lock and demanded an additional ₹500 beyond the fare displayed on the app.

The incident, which she later described in a LinkedIn post, has sparked widespread discussion online about rider safety, digital privacy and the responsibilities of ride-hailing platforms.

Passenger claims she was prevented from leaving

According to the woman, the ride had ended at around 4 am when she requested the driver’s QR code to complete payment. She alleged that the driver then demanded an extra ₹500 and refused to unlock the vehicle when she questioned the charge.

The woman claimed the driver told her she would not be allowed to leave unless the amount was paid. She said she threatened to contact the police and friends nearby, after which the vehicle was eventually unlocked.

“I felt trapped and intimidated because I was unable to open the door and exit the vehicle,” she said.

Concerns over personal information

The woman also alleged that she shared her personal mobile number because the platform’s calling system was not working properly. Following the ride, she claimed the driver continued contacting her from multiple numbers, including those belonging to friends.

The incident prompted fresh warnings from users about sharing personal contact details outside official app-based communication channels.

Why no police complaint was filed

Explaining her decision not to approach the police, the woman said it was early in the morning and she did not wish to become involved in legal procedures. Instead, she reported the matter through the platform and expected action to be taken.

Uber responds

Responding publicly, Uber apologised for the experience and confirmed that action had been taken against the driver following an internal review.

The company also reiterated that rider and driver phone numbers are typically anonymised through the platform and advised users not to share personal contact information directly.

The incident has fuelled a broader debate about passenger safety, platform accountability and the challenges faced by users of ride-hailing services.