Lori Greiner from Shark Tank recently posted some solid advice for rideshare riders. In the video (embedded below), she states: “Never eat or drink anything from a stranger, even if it seems sealed. This is very important. There have been reports of women taking rideshares and being handed a bottle of water by the driver that appeared unopened, but it was later discovered to be tainted with a drug. This serves as a harsh reminder of why it’s so crucial to never accept food, water, or any drink from a stranger. Always carry your own, and please stay safe. It’s important to pass this message along to others to help keep everyone aware and protected.”
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Her video may be in response to another video posted a week earlier by a woman sharing her friend’s story to warn women in Los Angeles. Here’s the transcript: “My friend was roofied by her driver in an Uber Black car last week in Los Angeles, and this video is to warn the women of Los Angeles. I’m making this video on her behalf with her consent. She’s not ready to talk about it, but she does want to warn other women in LA. She was in an Uber Black SUV, traveling from Santa Monica to Hollywood around 6pm. The driver offered her a sealed bottle of water, which she accepted. After taking just one sip, she started feeling noticeable changes within two minutes. Her mind, heart rate and body were all off. Within 15 minutes, she was no longer able to form sentences.
Thankfully, my friend is OK, and she was in a moving vehicle. This is just a reminder to the women of Los Angeles: don’t eat or drink anything from a driver, even if it looks sealed. Always stay vigilant. It’s hard to make a video like this, but it’s even harder knowing this could happen to someone else. Please share this with the women in your life (especially those in Los Angeles) and stay vigilant.”
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As you’d expect, there were many comments left on both videos:
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Sophia: Great tips for staying safe! Always important to stay prepared and aware.
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Djcrystalclear: I’m a child of the ’70s, and we were always told, “Don’t take candy from strangers!”
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Marshaahe: I would never take a drink from a stranger.
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Shawneelynnbaker: My daughter Baylie was most likely drugged in her water in an Uber by two men, while attending the University of Miami. She was in pre-med and extremely responsible. The texts show overwhelming evidence but without toxicology, we cannot say 100%. I encourage others to read Baylie’s story and see for yourself. They took her on a 5-10 min loop waiting for the drug to work. She got away and walked into traffic. We have a nonprofit to educate women and college girls.
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Demetriusimagery: Don’t use their chargers either! It’s called an “OMG cable” and can collect data when your phone’s unlocked and you press “allow accessory.”
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Joetbryan: As a former rideshare driver, please know that drivers are definitely in more danger than passengers. Drivers go through background checks, but the person taking the ride doesn’t, and the person in the car isn’t always the one who ordered it. I put a camera in my car for MY safety!
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Sandra.22200: These times are so sad 😞 can’t trust anyone 😢
Both videos offer crucial advice but I would add that these warnings aren’t just for women. Men, especially those traveling alone, should be aware, too. An Australian friend of mine was at a conference in Miami and had one too many drinks. He said the last thing he remembered was either ordering an Uber or walking down the street when a car pulled up with two guys inside. He jumped in and they handed him a bottle of water. The next thing he remembered was waking up hours later on the side of the road with his wallet and watch stolen. He was lucky to be alive.
He made several mistakes, namely getting into a car without verifying that it was the one he had ordered and accepting a drink from the driver. This is a good reminder to always stay alert and be cautious, no matter your gender.
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