It is so convenient now to order food from restaurants and have it delivered right to your door with delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Restaurants and delivery drivers depend on these services and orders to make a living. Unfortunately, according to the Federal Trade Commission, delivery drivers and restaurants are being targeted by scammers to steal their hard-earned money or their personal information.

Delivery drivers and restaurants: heads up! Here’s how the two new scams work.

  1. Fraudsters pose as support personnel from the delivery service (e.g. Uber Eats and DoorDash) and contact drivers and restaurants to say they are sending them a free tablet or printer to process food delivery orders. The ask you to verify your phone number, email address and login, Social Security number, and bank account number so they can send the tablet or printer. Obviously, sending this personal information now gives the fraudsters valuable personal information that can then be used to perpetrate fraud on the individual who provides the personal information.
  2. The scammer requests the email or bank account number “because there’s a problem with an order, or they want to refund them money from a canceled order.” Once they obtain the email address, the scammer then asks for an email verification code.

According to the FTC:

If you get requests like this, no matter where you work: Stop. Here’s how to avoid the scams.

  • Don’t give your personal or financial information to someone who unexpectedly calls, texts, or emails you. They may be trying to steal from you.
  • If you think the request is legitimate, contact the business directly. But use a phone number you know is real or a website or app you found yourself.
  • Never share an email verification code with someone if you didn’t contact them first. Scammers are after your information and money. Sharing verification codes makes it easier for them to pretend to be you. Once they’re “you,” they have access to your accounts and can take your money.
Photo of Linn Foster Freedman Linn Foster Freedman

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her…

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.