>>> UBERS, TAXIS AND LYFTS, OH, MY.

TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOMEONE WHO WAS REALLY TAKEN FOR A RIDE.

CAROL AND STUDENTS FOR INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS ABOUT UNSCRUPULOUS DRIVERS AND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING TO PROTECT RIDERS.

CAROL.

>> Reporter: ANTICIPATING THE FLOOD OF TOURISTS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION NEXT YEAR AND LALA PALUSA NEXT SUMMER.

AND THEY NEED TO DO SO WITH THEIR EYES WIDE OPEN ABOUT HOW THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN AND CHARGED.

JUST ASK TERRY.

>> I JUST THOUGHT I WAS TAKING A MINI VACATION GOING FROM MINNESOTA TO CHICAGO AND JUST BE A TOURIST.

>> Reporter: LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, GOING TO WRIGLEY FIELD.

HER TRIP BEGAN JULY 15TH, 2022.

SHE WALKED OUT OF UNION STATION AND INTO WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE CHICAGO CAMP.

SOME 10 MINUTES LATER SHE ARRIVED SHE SAYS AT HER HOTEL JUST OFF THE MAG MILE AND PAID HER FARE.

>> HE ASKED FOR MY CARD, HE RAN IT THROUGH SQUARE, AND I WAS OFF.

NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

>> Reporter: UNTIL A SHORT TIME LATER AT DINNER.

>> SITTING AT DINNER AND I GET AN ALERT FROM MY BANK ABOUT A 240-COME DOLLAR CHARGE.

AND MY STOMACH DID A FLIP FLOP.

>> PEOPLE ARE GETTING QUITE BRAZEN NOW.

>> Reporter: IT'S NO SURPRISE TO JOE, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AND TRANSPORTATION.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGER PROBLEMS WE ARE SEEING NOW IS AFTER EVENTS WHEN THERE IS SURGES OF UNLICENSED DRIVERS, FAKE TAXIS, UBERS, PEOPLE PULLING YOU HAVE OFFERING RIDES AND FAKE SIGNAGE AND PEOPLE JUMP IN OUT OF A SENSE OF TRUST.

>> SHE FILED A TAXICAB COMPLAINT AND SENT IT TO THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION, THE BACP.

>> I SENT THEM ALL OF THE INFORMATION I SENT TO THE CITY, AND THEN I GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE CITY.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE LETTER SHE RECEIVED STATING "THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY THE DRIVER."

AND THIS IS WHERE OUR STORY TAKES A VERY SHARP TURN.

IN FEBRUARY THE CITY ISSUED A WARNING ABOUT FAKE TAXIS, SAYING IT'S BUREAU OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION WOULD PROCESS, INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE COMPLAINTS FILE ON ITS WEBSITE OR COMPLAINTS FILED WITH 311.

IN HER CASE TERRY GAVE THE CITY THE DRIVER'S NAME AND ADDRESS FROM HER RECEIPT.

IT READ HOLADMAMUD LOCATED IN ORLAND PARK.

USING THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, OUR STUDENTS FOUND NINE COMPLAINTS FILED IN JUST THE LAST YEAR LINKED TO THE NAME HOLAD MAMUD INCLUDING A JUNE 26, 2022, RIDE FROM SOLDIER FIELD TO THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL FOLLOWING A KENNY CHESNEY CONCERT, PRICE TAG, $250 AND AUGUST 7TH, 2022, 1 BLOCK RIDE FOR $236.

IN THE DATABASE WE EXAMINED, THREE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE CITY INCLUDED LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS, WHICH GO BACK TO THIS ORLAND PARK ADDRESS AND THE NAME HOLAD MAMUD.

WE VISITED THAT ADDRESS WHERE A MAN ADDRESSED HIMSELF HOLAD MAMUD ON CAMERA, BUT OFF CAMERA STRONGLY DISPUTED DRIVING AN UNAUTHORIZED CAB OR OVERCHARGING CUSTOMERS.

THOUGH IN THE GARAGE BEHIND HIS APARTMENT WAS A CAR WITH ONE OF THE LICENSE PLATES LISTED IN THE CITY DATABASE COMPLAINTS.

WE REPEATEDLY ASKED THE CITY'S BACP ABOUT THOSE COMPLAINTS AND A NUMBER OF TIMES ASKED TO DO AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW.

THE BACP DECLINED, ASKED WHY.

A SPOKESWOMAN ONLY DIRECTED US TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE AS AN ANSWER.

SO WE ASKED 30-SECOND WARD ALDERMAN, WHO TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO TIGHTEN REGULATIONS ON RIDE SHARES AND TAXIS.

>> BACP COULD TAKE THAT AND SHOULD TAKE THAT ACTIVE COMPLAINT, PURSUE IT UP TO THE POINT WHERE IF CRIMINAL CHARGES NEEDED TO BE FILED WITH THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, THEY SHOULD HAND IT OVER AS A WHOLE FILE AND SAY "HERE IS WHAT WE'VE FOUND."

>> Reporter: AS FOR TERRY, HER TRIP INCLUDED MEMORABLE DINNERS OUT, A VISIT TO THE ART INSTITUTE AND THAT STOP AT WRIGLEY FIELD.

>> DO YOU FEEL THAT CITY OFFICIALS HERE IN CHICAGO TOOK YOUR COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY?

>> NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST, NO.

I -- HOW COULD I?

I JUST GOT THE BRUSH OFF, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

>> Reporter: WE SHOULD NOTE IN AND AROUND CHICAGO AND ITS SUBURBS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MEN NAMED HOLAD MAMUD.

OUR STORY IS ONLY THE ONE WHO LIVES IN HOLLAND PARK.

NOT ONLY COMPLAINTS WITH THE CITY, BUT ALSO AT THE STATION WHERE TERRY CAUGHT THAT RIDE HAVE FILED CHARGES OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS AGAINST MAMOD IN 2018 AND 2019.

THOSE WERE DROPPED.

>> GOOD OF CHICAGO AND UNFORTUNATELY THE BAD SIDE OF