$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Uber Eats delivery scam
Scammers posing as Uber Eats drivers contact customers claiming issues with delivery and ask for payment details or verification codes to 'complete' the order.
“impersonation scam”
↑ 604%Key indicators
Usually targetsUber Eats customers
Often hitsEducators and students
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $8.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports330,000
Scam breakdown
1
A scammer, sometimes a real driver with malicious intent, contacts the customer outside the app claiming a problem with the order or payment.
2
They ask the customer to provide a credit card number, CVV, or a verification code sent via SMS — which is actually a password reset code for the Uber account.
3
With the verification code, the scammer takes over the victim's account and makes purchases or changes the payment method.
What to do first
Never share verification codes, credit card details, or passwords with anyone claiming to be an Uber Eats driver.
Related terms
fake Uber Eats driverdelivery verification scamUber Eats payment scamBrand impersonation scamsUberSurgingUber Eats customersYoung adultsUrban residentsEducators and studentsDrivers and gig workersOnline shoppersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadafake Uber Eats driverdelivery verification scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jessica, 35, a uber eats customers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate brand impersonation scams situation while using Uber. A scammer, sometimes a real driver with malicious intent, contacts the customer outside the app claiming a problem with the order or payment.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They ask the customer to provide a credit card number, CVV, or a verification code sent via SMS — which is actually a password reset code for the Uber account.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: With the verification code, the scammer takes over the victim's account and makes purchases or changes the payment method.
The outcome
Jessica realized something was wrong when driver calls or texts asking for your credit card number or uber login credentials to complete delivery. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never share verification codes, credit card details, or passwords with anyone claiming to be an Uber Eats driver. Jessica's experience shows why driver calls or texts asking for your credit card number or uber login credentials to complete delivery and driver claims they need a verification code you received via text to release your order are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Driver calls or texts asking for your credit card number or Uber login credentials to complete delivery
- Driver claims they need a verification code you received via text to release your order
- Request comes from a phone number rather than through the Uber Eats app messaging
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Never share verification codes, credit card details, or passwords with anyone claiming to be an Uber Eats driver.
- ✓Communicate with drivers only through the in-app messaging and calling features.
- ✓Report the incident to Uber Eats support through the app immediately.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Delivery app scams were among the top consumer complaints to the BBB in 2023, with Uber Eats and similar platforms being frequently impersonated.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Never share verification codes, credit card details, or passwords with anyone claiming to be an Uber Eats driver.
- ✓Communicate with drivers only through the in-app messaging and calling features.
- ✓Report the incident to Uber Eats support through the app immediately.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Delivery app scams were among the top consumer complaints to the BBB in 2023, with Uber Eats and similar platforms being frequently impersonated.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Uber Eats customers, Young adults, Urban residents
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Uber — Brand impersonation scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Uber Eats customers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Delivery app scams were among the top consumer complaints to the BBB in 2023, with Uber Eats and similar platforms being frequently impersonated.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about uber eats delivery scam
How does the uber eats delivery scam work?+
A scammer, sometimes a real driver with malicious intent, contacts the customer outside the app claiming a problem with the order or payment. They ask the customer to provide a credit card number, CVV, or a verification code sent via SMS — which is actually a password reset code for the Uber account. With the verification code, the scammer takes over the victim's account and makes purchases or changes the payment method.
What are the warning signs of uber eats delivery scam?+
Driver calls or texts asking for your credit card number or Uber login credentials to complete delivery Driver claims they need a verification code you received via text to release your order Request comes from a phone number rather than through the Uber Eats app messaging
What should I do if I encounter uber eats delivery scam?+
Never share verification codes, credit card details, or passwords with anyone claiming to be an Uber Eats driver. Communicate with drivers only through the in-app messaging and calling features. Report the incident to Uber Eats support through the app immediately.
Who is most at risk for uber eats delivery scam?+
This scam primarily targets Uber Eats customers, Young adults, Urban residents. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Uber.
Is uber eats delivery scam getting worse?+
Uber Eats delivery scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.