>>> THIS MORNING, A ROSSEN REPORTS UPDATE, THE HOLIDAY
SEASON WHERE YOU’RE LIKELY GOING
TO PLENTY OF PARTIES, MAYBE
HAVING TOO MUCH TO DRINK.
IT IS GREAT TO TAKE UBER OR
LYFT.
LYFT. >> BUT THERE ARE MULTIPLE
REPORTS OF ASSAULTS.
JEFF ROSSEN CONDUCTED A REAL
LIFE TEST THAT WILL MAKE YOU
STOP AND THINK BEFORE STEPPING
INTO THE CARS.
>> Reporter: YOU’RE LEAVING THE
MOVIES, RESTAURANT, A BAR,
ANYWHERE, AND YOU WANT TO GET
HOME.
HOME. YOU ORDER AN UBER AND HOP IN.
BUT ONE MISTAKE.
>> ARE YOU SERIOUS?
>> YES.
>> YES. >> Reporter: COULD COST YOU.
CASES POPPING UP ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. >> THE HUNT FOR A FAKE UBER
DRIVER.
DRIVER. >> Reporter: IT HAPPENED LAST
YEAR.
YEAR. >> I SAW A CAR THAT LOOKED LIKE
AN UBER.
AN UBER. >> IT WASN’T AN UBER?
>> NO, IT WAS NOT MY UBER.
>> Reporter: THE DRIVER, AN
IMPOSTER WAS WAITING OUTSIDE
THIS CLUB.
THIS CLUB. >> I LITERALLY WOKE UP TO HIM IN
THE BACK SEAT PARKED SOMEWHERE,
BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE
SEAT.
SEAT. >> AND HE SEXUAL ASSAULTED YOU?
>> YES.
>> YES. >> FOR HOURS?
>> FOR THREE HOURS, YEAH.
>> Reporter: THINK THIS COULDN’T
HAPPEN TO YOU?
THINK AGAIN.
THINK AGAIN. SO HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE HAVE A CAR THAT LOOKS LIKE A
TYPICAL UBER.
TYPICAL UBER. POLICE SAY WHAT FAKE DRIVERS ARE
DOING ON HOME PRINTERS THEY’RE
PRINTING AN UBER LOGO.
WE DID THE SAME ON THE OFFICE
COMPUTER AND PUT IT INSIDE THE
WINDSHIELD.
WINDSHIELD. THAT WAY WHEN YOU COME OUT OF A
BAR OR RESTAURANT, YOU’RE NOT
PAYING ATTENTION, YOU DON’T DO
RIGHT THINGS TO CONFIRM THIS IS
YOUR UBER, THEY CAN DRIVE OFF
AND DO WHAT THEY WANT, INCLUDING
ASSAULTING YOU.
ASSAULTING YOU. I AM GOING TO PARK OUTSIDE
POPULAR BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN
THE L.A. AREA INTO THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS WHEN THINGS GET PRETTY
LATE.
LATE. WE’RE GOING TO SEE WHO COMES IN.
WE HAVE THE ENTIRE CAR WIRED
WITH FIVE DIFFERENT CAMERAS,
WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THEM ADVICE
AND YOU AT HOME HOW NOT TO
BECOME THE NEXT VICTIM.
THESE TWO FRIENDS FALL FOR IT.
>> YOU GOT INTO A FAKE UBER.
THEY GOT IN WITHOUT CHECKING IF
IT WAS THE RIGHT UBER.
>> WHAT?
>> WHAT? >> PASSENGER AFTER PASSENGER.
>> HOW ARE YOU GUYS?
>> HOPPING IN THE CAR.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD.
>> GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
>> AND WOMEN.
ALL THINKING IT IS THEIR UBER.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
>> AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON AND
DRINKS FLOW, OUT ON THE STREET,
MY CAR IS PARKED, HAZARD LIGHTS
ON.
ON. AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I
TELL THEM WHO I REALLY AM.
>> I AM JEFF ROSSEN FROM THE
"TODAY" SHOW.
"TODAY" SHOW. YOU’RE ON TV NOW.
>> CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING?
MY NAME IS JEFF, I WORK FOR NBC.
>> HI, JEFF.
>> YOU’RE ON CAMERA NOW.
>> WE ARE?
>> WHEN THE SUPPLIES WEARS OFF,
THE SOBERING REALITY SETS IN.
>> YOU WALKED UP, GAVE ME YOUR
NAME AND I JUST SAID YES.
YOU GAVE IT ALL AWAY.
NOW IF I WERE A BAD GUY, I COULD
DRIVE YOU OFF SOMEWHERE, I COULD
LOCK THE DOORS.
>> AND RAPE ME.
>> YES.
>> YES. >> YOU GOT INTO A FAKE UBER.
THINK IF I WERE A BAD GUY, I AM
ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS.
>> IF YOU HAVE A GUN, THERE’S
NOTHING I CAN DO.
I AM DONE FOR.
>> Reporter: HOW CAN YOU PREVENT
THIS HAPPENING TO YOU?
I’M GIVING MY PASSENGERS SOME
TIPS.
TIPS. >> ON THE APP CHECK THE LICENSE
PLATE.
PLATE. MATCH THE LICENSE PLATE ON THE
CAR TO THE ACTUAL CAR.
CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE PERSON
BEHIND THE WHEEL LOOKS LIKE YOUR
DRIVER’S PHOTO IN THE APP.
>> CONFIRM THE DRIVER’S NAME AND
PICTURE.
PICTURE. >> Reporter: AND THE FINAL TIP,
DON’T GIVE AWAY YOUR NAME, ASK
THE DRIVER WHO THEY ARE PICKING
UP.
UP. THESE GIRLS DID THE RIGHT THING.
THEY DON’T GET IN, BUT THESE
GUYS DO.
GUYS DO. >> NEVER, EVER GIVE YOUR NAME
AWAY.
AWAY. MAKE THEM SAY YOUR NAME.
WHO ARE YOU HERE FOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Reporter: KEEPING YOU SAFE
AND SOUND, NEXT TIME YOU HOP IN
AN UBER.
AN UBER. >> STILL TAKE ME TO THE
DESTINATION?
DESTINATION? >> I CAN’T.
I AM NOT A REAL UBER DRIVER.
>> Reporter: HERE’S A BONUS TIP.
IN THE APP, UBER HAS AN
EMERGENCY 911 BUTTON DIRECTLY
CONNECTING YOU WITH POLICE IF
YOU NEED THEM.
FOR "TODAY," JEFF ROSSEN, NBC
NEWS.
NEWS. >> WOW.
>> WOW. I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THAT
PIECE.
PIECE. I ALWAYS CHECK THE LICENSE
PLATE.
PLATE. >> CHECK THE LICENSE PLATE, OR