I’ve lost my phone in an Uber more times than I can count. It happens. You’re out, having a good time, and by the time you get home, you realize—your phone is gone.
Panic sets in. You check the app, report it lost, and wait for the driver to respond.
And then… nothing.
No call, no message, no effort whatsoever.
At first, I gave these drivers the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they didn’t see it? Maybe someone else took it? But after losing my phone at least 10 times in Ubers, I’ve learned the hard way—some of these drivers are straight-up stealing phones and flipping them for cash.
This isn’t just some random theory—it’s happened to me too many times to ignore. And the worst part? Uber does nothing about it.
Why Would an Uber Driver Steal a Lost Phone?
Look, I know there are good drivers out there. I’ve had plenty return my phone. I always tip well—usually $100—because I appreciate honesty. But I’ve also had at least four drivers keep my phone and never report it.
And I know they had it. Why? Because I do everything right:
I put my business name on my lock screen.
My contact info is displayed.
Location tracking is turned on.
It should be easy. But when they don’t respond, I know exactly what’s going on. They’re keeping it, selling it, or wiping it clean for resale.
Here’s why they do it:
- Phones Are Worth Too Much to Return
Smartphones are crazy expensive now. Mine cost anywhere from $1,100 to $1,400—and I know I’m not the only one with a high-end device.
For a shady driver, it’s a simple equation:
✅ Return the phone for a possible $100 tip
❌ Sell it for $500+ and never get caught
Unfortunately, many choose the second option. - Uber’s System Makes It Easy to Steal
Uber has a lost-item reporting feature in the app, but it’s completely optional for drivers. If they don’t respond, nothing happens.
There’s no tracking, no penalties, no follow-up—just silence.
Think about it. Uber has:
GPS tracking of every ride
Ride history for both driver and passenger
Automated AI that could easily contact the driver
But instead of actually holding drivers accountable, Uber just hopes you’ll give up. - “I Didn’t See It” Is the Perfect Lie
All a driver has to do is ignore your lost phone request or say, “Nope, didn’t see it.” Uber won’t question them.
I’ve literally had a driver not respond for two days, then suddenly deactivate his Uber account—right after I lost my phone in his car. What does that tell you? - Phones Are Easy to Reset and Sell
Even with activation locks and tracking, stolen phones still sell like crazy. Some shady drivers know:
They can sell the phone for parts.
They can find unlock services (especially overseas).
They can ship the phone to another country, where activation locks don’t matter as much.
Even if you’re thinking, But my phone is locked! They can’t use it!—that doesn’t stop them from selling it to someone who knows how to bypass those protections.
Uber Is Letting This Happen
Uber is a multi-billion-dollar company, traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange, with some of the most advanced tracking technology in the world.
So why can’t they handle something as simple as returning a lost phone? - Uber Doesn’t Want to Spend Money on Customer Support
Uber runs on automation. They don’t want to pay for real customer service reps to track down lost items.
They could easily:
✅ Call the driver immediately when a phone is reported lost.
✅ Flag drivers who repeatedly “lose” phones.
✅ Investigate cases where drivers refuse to respond.
But instead, they make you do all the work—while shady drivers take advantage. - Drivers Are Independent Contractors—So Uber Avoids Responsibility
Uber doesn’t actually employ its drivers. They’re independent contractors, which means Uber takes zero responsibility when a driver steals something. - If your phone is stolen, Uber just shrugs and says, “We’ll try to contact the driver”—and that’s it.
- No investigation. No refund. No consequences.
- Uber Protects Drivers More Than Riders
Uber needs as many drivers as possible. If they start punishing drivers for not returning phones, it might scare off drivers who don’t want the hassle.
So instead of enforcing real lost-item policies, Uber just ignores the problem—even when drivers are clearly stealing.
How Uber Could Fix This (If They Cared)
Uber could solve this problem overnight with just a few simple changes:
1️⃣ Require drivers to confirm if a lost phone is in their car.
2️⃣ Use AI to automatically call/text the driver after a lost-item report.
3️⃣ Track drivers who repeatedly “lose” phones.
4️⃣ Let passengers escalate lost phone cases to a real human.
5️⃣ Compensate passengers if their phone isn’t returned.
This isn’t rocket science. If Uber wanted to fix this, they could. But they don’t—because it’s easier to let you take the loss than to enforce real policies.
Final Thoughts: Uber, Fix This Now
At this point, I’ve lost too many phones in Ubers to believe it’s just bad luck. I know exactly what’s happening:
Some Uber drivers steal lost phones, and Uber does nothing about it.
It’s shady, unethical, and disgusting.
With all the tracking, AI, and data Uber has, there’s no excuse for them to let this happen. Yet they do. And that tells me everything I need to know:
Uber doesn’t care if their drivers steal from passengers.
Until they fix this, I’ll keep warning people: If you lose your phone in an Uber, there’s a good chance you’re never getting it back.
