inDrive, Lahore police bust courier scam exploiting digital platforms

LAHORE: inDrive, in collaboration with the Lahore police, has dismantled a criminal network that had been targeting customers by impersonating drivers on the platform.

The investigation, which led to the arrest of four suspects, also highlighted serious vulnerabilities in digital ride-hailing systems. The ringleader, a former franchise owner of a now-defunct ride-hailing platform, had exploited prior access to driver records to manipulate courier verification protocols across multiple platforms.

The group had been posing as inDrive drivers to defraud unsuspecting users. The police have recovered most of the stolen goods -- including electronics, clothing and other valuables worth hundreds of thousands of rupees -- which are being returned to their rightful owners.

The operation, led by SHO Taimoor Abbas of Gulberg Lahore, followed days of digital surveillance and tracing. The suspects were also found in possession of two unlicensed pistols. “This operation succeeded due to inDrive’s swift cooperation,” said Abbas. “They provided the digital trail that enabled us to identify and apprehend the culprits. Partnerships like these between tech firms and law enforcement are essential in today’s digital fraud landscape.”

inDrive said its internal investigations team worked closely with law enforcement to trace complaint patterns, freeze suspect accounts, and provide actionable data that led to the arrests. Over recent months, the company has rolled out enhanced ID checks, advanced fraud detection systems, and faster safety response protocols.

“We understand that the ride-hailing landscape is evolving -- and so are we,” said Country Head of inDrive Pakistan Awais Saeed. “For every attempt to misuse our platform, we are building smarter, faster systems to detect, prevent and respond. This incident reinforces our commitment to staying ahead of emerging threats.”

As scams become more sophisticated, inDrive is expanding its in-app safety features, onboarding transparency, and rapid incident resolution for both passengers and drivers. Saeed also emphasised the importance of reporting incidents through official in-app channels.

“W are seeing a rise in unauthenticated claims online. While we welcome honest feedback, it’s essential to distinguish fact from fiction,” he said. “Verified reporting through our app helps us respond promptly and accurately.”