International airport has a warning for travelers – make sure your taxi driver knows your name

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport authorities are urging travelers to be extra cautious when using rideshare services after a disturbing report of a traveler being taken by someone posing as a driver.

Responding to that recent incident, the Port of Seattle has drawn attention to a safety campaign called “What’s my name?” designed to help passengers confirm they’re Uber or Lyft driver is legitimate.

The autumn 2025 SEA-TAC abduction

In the fall of 2025, at SEA-TAC, Seattle’s airport, a traveler who had booked a rideshare ride in the early morning hours was greeted by someone in a black Tesla claiming to be their driver.

While en route, the driver reportedly veered in the wrong direction and tried to coerce the passenger into sending money through Venmo before eventually letting them out near a highway.

According to Seattle’s KING5, the passenger only later realized the vehicle did not match the one listed in the app. Port officials say they are investigating the encounter and working with local law enforcement to identify the individual.

While that case is still under investigation, airport officials have reminded visitors of potential risks and safety best practices when using app-based pickups, including “What’s my name?”

What is “What’s My Name?”

The “What’s my name?” initiative is part of a broader effort to remind rideshare users that even in busy, crowded settings like airports, verifying the identity of your driver is essential. The campaign is aligned with the national #WHATSMYNAME movement, which grew out of the tragic 2019 murder of college student Samantha Josephson in South Carolina by a man posing as her Uber driver.

In response to that crime, Josephson’s family created the #WHATSMYNAME Foundation to educate the public on how to verify rides and reduce the risk of similar tragedies.

The core idea behind the campaign is straightforward: before you get into a rideshare vehicle, ask the driver to confirm your name, which a real driver should know through the app. If they hesitate, are unsure, or cannot clearly confirm your name, that can be a red flag that something is amiss.

Airport officials note that fake rideshare drivers will often try to appear legitimate by parking near pickup zones or waving travelers over. They won’t, however, have accurate information from the ride-share platform itself. Other rideshare safety advice recommends matching the vehicle’s make, model, and license plate number with what appears in the app and to wait in designated rideshare pickup areas.

Rideshare safety

Despite high visibility of isolated scam reports, serious crimes involving rideshare drivers or impersonators remain statistically rare. Safety transparency reports released by Uber and Lyft show that serious safety incidents make up only a tiny fraction of the billions of rides completed each year.

Still, airport officials emphasize that the holiday travel season, with increased passenger volumes and crowded pickup areas, could create opportunities for opportunistic bad actors. Travelers are encouraged to be vigilant, use designated pickup locations, verify app details, and never feel pressured to enter a vehicle that doesn’t match what’s shown on their phone.