Food Delivery Scams: Fake Orders and Driver Impersonation

The Refund Abuse Scam (Customer-Side Fraud)

This scam works in reverse — it's run by dishonest customers against restaurants and drivers. A customer places a legitimate order, receives their food, then reports it as "never delivered" or "missing items" to get a full refund while keeping the meal. Some people run this scheme repeatedly across multiple accounts.

Platforms have cracked down with photo-verification requirements and AI-powered fraud detection, but the scheme persists. It drives up costs for restaurants and can result in unfair deactivation of honest drivers who get blamed for "missing" deliveries.

Fake Driver Impersonation

Scammers contact customers by phone or text pretending to be their delivery driver. They claim they can't find the address and ask the customer to meet them at a different location, share additional personal information, or click a tracking link that's actually a phishing URL.

"Hi I'm your Uber Eats driver, the app isn't showing me your exact location. Can you click this link to share your live GPS? ubereats-driver-loc.com/track"

Real delivery drivers communicate through the app's built-in chat, which masks your real phone number. Any message asking you to click an external link or share information outside the app is fraudulent.

Restaurant Impersonation Scams

Scammers create fake restaurant listings on delivery platforms using stolen menus and photos from real restaurants. They accept orders, collect payment, and never deliver food. By the time customers complain and the platform investigates, the scammer has already cashed out.

Red flags for fake restaurant listings:

• Brand new listing with zero reviews
• Prices significantly below comparable restaurants
• Menu photos that look like stock images or are stolen from other listings
• Restaurant name that's very similar to a well-known brand but slightly different
• No physical address verification (look up the address on Google Maps)

IsThisAScam's 6-layer detection can analyze suspicious delivery-related messages, helping you distinguish legitimate order updates from phishing attempts targeting your account credentials.

The "Tip Bait" Scheme

Some platforms allow customers to adjust tips after delivery. In "tip baiting," a customer offers a large tip to attract a driver for a long-distance or otherwise undesirable delivery, then reduces or removes the tip after receiving their food. While not technically a scam in the criminal sense, it's a deceptive practice that exploits drivers who depend on tips for their income.

Promo Code and Coupon Scams

Social media is flooded with posts promoting "unlimited DoorDash credits" or "free Grubhub orders." These scams typically work in one of three ways:

• The "promo code" is a referral link that benefits the poster, not you
• The link leads to a phishing page that harvests your login credentials
• You're asked to download a "modified app" that contains malware

How to Stay Safe on Delivery Platforms

• Never share account credentials, credit card details, or verification codes with anyone who contacts you
• Use the in-app communication system for all driver interactions
• Enable delivery notifications and track your order in real time
• Check your order history and bank statements regularly for unauthorized charges
• Report issues immediately through the app — platforms have time limits for disputes
• Use a unique, strong password for each delivery account (see our guide on creating strong passwords)
• Be skeptical of deals that seem too good — "free food" promotions shared on social media are almost always scams

If you've been charged for orders you didn't place, your account may be compromised. Change your password immediately, enable two-factor authentication, remove saved payment methods, and contact the platform's fraud department.