Mounting claims of identity theft involving fake Uber accounts raise passenger safety concerns

2 hours ago 5

An probe by CBS News California Investigates has uncovered mounting allegations that stolen identities are being utilized to make fraudulent Uber operator accounts, raising questions astir rider information and the company's operator verification process.

California has much rideshare drivers than immoderate different state, much than 800,000 arsenic of precocious 2025, according to authorities data. But user advocates and alleged victims present accidental hundreds of those accounts whitethorn person been created utilizing stolen identities to bypass Uber's inheritance checks.

The allegations surfaced aft respective radical crossed the state reported receiving taxation forms showing income from Uber, contempt ne'er signing up to thrust for the company.

"That's a nationalist information issue," said 1 alleged individuality theft unfortunate who asked not to beryllium identified by name. "People are getting into cars and receiving nutrient from radical that are not needfully the radical that they're expected to be."

Many victims accidental they discovered the occupation lone aft receiving IRS Form 1099 documents listing net from Uber.

When asked if they had ever driven for Uber, 2 Los Angeles County residents who received specified forms responded simply: "No."

Last month, CBS News California Investigates reported connected a Woodland Hills mates who showed america a 1099 they received from Uber reporting astir $7,000 successful income earned implicit 2 months, adjacent though neither had ever worked arsenic a rideshare driver.

"You usage Uber knowing that they marque claims that each of the Uber drivers are inheritance checked, transgression grounds checked, and you consciousness harmless utilizing an Uber," said Anna Kojoyan, the woman of 1 alleged victim. "But seemingly you ne'er cognize who's picking you up."

After the probe aired, CBS LA's inbox was flooded with emails from viewers saying the aforesaid happening had happened to them. One pistillate wrote, "I received a 1099 from Uber totaling $4,100 and the idiosyncratic worked from June-September. I person not been capable to get a clasp of Uber."

Another man's email said, "I conscionable received 1099s for $12,000 from Uber adjacent though I person ne'er driven with them." One pistillate successful Arizona saw our study and wrote: "The aforesaid happening happened to my hubby 2 years ago."

Corey Abrams said that helium tried to study it to Uber and was incapable to talk to anyone who could assistance him.

"I've contacted them galore times," Abrams said. "I uploaded each the documentation they asked for successful their fraudulent conception of their website, which I someway managed to find. No responses, nary connection astatine all."

Lucas Velasquez said helium besides received a 1099 from Uber past period contempt ne'er driving for the company.

"When I asked what the adjacent steps were oregon what was going to happen, they conscionable told maine that idiosyncratic would beryllium successful interaction with me," Velasquez said. "It's been a fewer weeks, and I inactive haven't heard anything."

CBS News California Investigates reached retired to Uber for an interrogation and asked what the institution is doing to guarantee drivers are who they assertion to be.

The institution declined an interrogation and did not respond to a bid of written questions submitted Feb. 23 and again Feb. 25.

In a connection to CBS News California Investigates, Uber said successful part, "We privation to beryllium wide that we are thoroughly investigating each study we receive. When we place a fraudulent account, we permanently prohibition it from our level and instrumentality corrective action, including issuing an updated Form 1099 reflecting $0 successful income truthful that affected individuals bash not beryllium taxes related to fraudulent activity."

The institution added that, based connected its investigations, the cases are accordant with broader individuality theft trends. Uber said protecting the integrity of its level and the information of the riders and drivers is the apical priority.

"These cases correspond a precise tiny fraction of the millions of taxation forms we contented each year, but we instrumentality each study earnestly and are investigating each one," Uber said.

Consumer rights lawyer Todd Friedman filed a class-action suit against Uber successful 2024, alleging the institution failed to decently surface drivers.

Friedman said Uber responded by filing a question to dismiss. He added that his bureau has been inundated with hundreds of calls from imaginable victims reporting akin experiences.

Reports of alleged individuality theft tied to Uber operator accounts are not constricted to California. Victims from crossed the U.S. accidental they person received akin taxation forms.

Janine Beveridge from Michigan said she received a 1099 reporting net nether her big daughter's name, adjacent though her girl has ne'er driven for Uber.

"To deliberation determination could beryllium criminals and they're driving america astir — I thought, being that we are successful a conveyance by Uber, that it was legitimate," Beveridge said.

Friedman said the increasing fig of cases raises superior concerns astir whether passengers tin genuinely cognize who is driving them.

"Based connected the complaint it's been happening," helium said. "I don't deliberation you can."

Uber's afloat connection to CBS News California Investigates:

"We privation to beryllium wide that we are thoroughly investigating each study we receive. When we place a fraudulent account, we permanently prohibition it from our level and instrumentality corrective action, including issuing an updated Form 1099 reflecting $0 successful income truthful that affected individuals bash not beryllium taxes related to fraudulent activity.

Based connected our investigation, these cases are accordant with broader individuality theft trends successful which atrocious actors usage stolen driver's licence and Social Security numbers to effort to make fraudulent accounts. We person not recovered immoderate grounds that this resulted from unauthorized entree to Uber's systems.

Protecting the integrity of our level and the information of riders and drivers is simply a apical priority. These cases correspond a precise tiny fraction of the millions of taxation forms we contented each year, but we instrumentality each study earnestly and are investigating each one.

We ever promote users to activate our suite of information features whenever they usage Uber including Share My Trip, Audio Recording, and PIN verification among others. You tin larn much astir them here.

Identity theft is simply a superior crime. We promote anyone who believes they whitethorn person been affected to scope retired to america truthful we tin analyse promptly."