The Most Common DoorDash Scams [& How To Avoid Them]

DoorDash Scams Targeting Drivers

Although being a Dasher can be a lucrative way to make money on the side, it can also involve some risks.

This section will help you stay aware while delivering food orders on the platform by exposing some of the common methods scammers can target you.

The Most Common DoorDash Scams Targeting Drivers

Scams targeting drivers can take a variety of forms. Many of these scams target your personal and payment details, while others trick the drivers for personal gain. Here’s a brief overview of the most popular ones.

Phishing Scams

This is one of the most popular scams that some Dashers still fall for. Scammers will pose as DoorDash support and contact you through calls, texts, or emails. They often claim there’s an issue with your account or payment details.

The scammer will then explain that to help you, they need your login credentials, verification codes, or bank information.

Doordash Text Scam

Another common form of phishing scam is DoorDash texts. In this method, scammers will send fraudulent text messages pretending to be from DoorDash.

The text will be about a delivery issue, account problems, refunds, or promotions. They may also include that the scammer wants you to click to enter information or download a document.

This will take you to a phishing website that looks like the real DoorDash website but is designed to steal your information.

Dashlink Doordash Scam

The Dashlink is a specific type of phishing scam targeting drivers through text messages. The scam may also use a spoofed number to appear authentic.

Scammers will claim that the Dasher’s number has been disconnected from the Dasher App and ask you to click a certain link to reconnect to DoorDash.

Doordash Verification Code Scam

Scammers contact Dashers through texts or calls pretending to be DoorDash support and claim there’s a payment glitch.

They then ask for a verification code sent to the Dasher’s phone to help them verify their identity and fix the problem.

The code is actually a login code that they can use to access your account and steal your banking information.

Fake Order Scams

Scammers place an order with a fake or confusing address, luring Dashers to remote or dangerous locations. This could be a setup for robbery, assault, or stealing the driver’s vehicle.

The order is usually a large one or with a big tip to encourage the Dashers to go without checking.

Tip Baiting

The practice of tip baiting is not exactly a scam, but more of a deceptive and unethical practice where customers offer a high tip initially to incentivize drivers to pick up their order quickly and prioritize its delivery, only to reduce or remove the tip entirely after the delivery is complete.

The Fake Customer Service Rep Scam

Scammers pretend to be DoorDash customer service and contact Dashers, offering help with a certain account issue.

They trick them into sharing login information or clicking phishing links, allowing them to gain access to their account and divert funds.

Customers Claiming Non-Delivery for Free Food

Customers falsely claim they didn’t receive their order to get the food for free by requesting a refund.

While the scam doesn’t directly target the Dasher, it still heavily impacts their record and affects their earnings.

Customer Picks Up The Food Before The Driver

Customers order food and pick it up themselves before the Dasher arrives, then claim they never received it.

This can confuse both the restaurant and the Dasher. Since the order is technically not delivered, the reimbursement may come out of the driver’s pocket.

Direct Deposit Scam

Phishing emails or texts lure Dashers into clicking malicious links by claiming there’s a problem with the Dasher’s Direct Deposit card.

The purpose of this phishing attempt is to gain access to Dasher’s banking details to redirect their wages.

Doordash Reactivation Hacker Scam

Scammers, often pretending to be from customer support, prey on deactivated Dashers by offering to reactivate their accounts for a fee.

These scams never deliver on their promises because DoorDash has a set procedure for reactivation.

Some accounts are also deactivated permanently from the platform, so there’s no way to reactivate them.

Action Steps

Although some DoorDash scams can be quite elaborate, there are some techniques to safeguard yourself and avoid falling for them.

Here are a few tips that should help you avoid most scams:

• Always check the sender’s email address and phone number carefully. Look for misspellings or suspicious domains.
• If you receive a phishing email or text, report it to DoorDash directly. Also, share its details on Dasher communities on Reddit and Facebook to inform others.
• If you suspect any malicious activity on your account, change your password immediately and contact DoorDash support for further help.

DoorDash Countermeasures

While Dasher’s due diligence is necessary, DoorDash also implements various methods to protect its drivers against these scams.

These can take various forms, such as:

• Two-factor authentication, which is a login security measure where drivers can’t sign into the app without entering a unique temporary code sent to their contact method.
• Hiring professional cybersecurity companies for Dasher’s data encryption and protection.
• Implementing fraud detection algorithms to monitor the system to flag malicious activity.
• DoorDash introduced the SafeDash, which is an in-app feature to request emergency services directly through the app. This one automatically checks the Dasher if they take longer than expected during deliveries to ensure their safety.
• DoorDash Driver education programs and webinars to provide tips on detecting scams and avoiding risks.

How to Avoid DoorDash Scams as a Driver

• Never give any personal information through unsolicited contact methods.
• Avoid clicking on links or attachments in unexpected emails or texts from DoorDash. Instead, log in to your account through the official app or website and check the inbox there.
• Beware of overly generous offers, as excessively high tips or unrealistic payouts might be bait for scams.
• Trust your gut if something feels off about an order. Don’t hesitate to contact DoorDash support through the official channels listed on their website whenever you suspect fraudulent activity.
• Always remember to document your order and keep supporting evidence to counterclaim undelivered order scams.
• Secure your information by using a unique password for your Dasher account

DoorDash Scams Targeting Customers

Like Dashers, customers can also be a target of DoorDash scams. These can be by unethical DoorDash drivers or independent scammers.

The Most Common Scams Targeting Customers

Here’s a quick look at the common scams to help detect them and avoid them whenever possible.

Phishing Attempts

These ones are similar to the ones Dashers can receive. For example, customers might receive emails or texts claiming to be from DoorDash,

These fake messages will notify them about issues with their account that require re-submitting account details or ask them to manually confirm delivery details.

In most cases, they will include a bogus website that seems authentic with the aim of stealing personal information and banking details from targets.

Email Survey Scam

Customers are directed to complete fake surveys promising rewards and special promo codes for answering questions about your DoorDash experience.

After completing the survey, the fraudulent website will ask customers to provide their personal information to receive their rewards, but they end up stealing them and redirecting them to other fraudulent websites.

Fake Delivery Drivers

In 2019, DoorDash announced that a breach in the company’s database had led to stealing the information of more than 4.9 million users, including customers, dashers, and merchants.

Since this data included some physical addresses, some individuals will pose as DoorDash drivers and show up at the customers’ homes, claiming that they’re delivering orders, and attempting to break in.

Menu Price Inflation Scams

While not every restaurant does that, many vendors will utilize tactics to charge more on DoorDash compared to their in-store menu.

The most straightforward approach is simply increasing the price of each item on the DoorDash menu by a fixed, relatively low percentage. Other restaurants would selectively increase the price of certain items, especially high-demand ones.

Alternatively, some restaurants would offer slightly smaller portions for the same price as in-store meals.

Some restaurants would also bundle certain items together and hide individual options from their DoorDash menu to increase sales.

Delivery Intercept Scams

This is where individuals attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in the delivery platform through hacking and information from data breaches to pose as the delivery person.

These elaborate scammers would then show up the delivery person to either receive payment, steal the order, or attempt to skim credit card information by claiming there was an issue with the payment. These scammers affect not only customers but Dashers and the platform too.

Action Steps

While these scams can take a wide range of forms, staying vigilant to details can help you avoid most of them.

Here are some recommendations to consider while ordering on DoorDash:

• Avoid revealing your order information to anyone outside the official platform.
• If you want to contact the driver, either chat through the app or call their registered number.
• Always remember that DoorDash customer support will only contact you through the app or email unless you specifically request a call.
• Before ordering, check the restaurant’s websites or online platforms to compare prices with DoorDash’s items.
• If you hear of a DoorDash data breach, change your password immediately and consider contacting support for further help to secure your account.

DoorDash Countermeasures

Most DoorDash countermeasures to protect customer interests focus on protecting their privacy and securing their information.

For example, the app has a dedicated order tracking system that lets you know the stage of the order. This allows you to know if it’s still preparing or out for delivery. The app also allows you to track the location of the driver in real time.

DoorDash also implements a verification system using one-time codes shared between customers and drivers to prevent fraud.

Unfortunately, DoorDash doesn’t require restaurants to match their in-house pricing. However, it still highly encourages keeping the prices consistent by sharing data about the negative impact of markups on the restaurant’s long-term sales.

How to Avoid DoorDash Scams as a Customer

• Upon delivery, check the driver’s name and photo against the information provided by the delivery platform.
• If unsure, politely request the driver to show their credentials to match them with contact details.
• Examine the order to make sure that it contains the right items before accepting them.
• To avoid money-related fraud, avoid cash payments and consider paying only through the app, including the tips.
• Use a prepaid bank card and avoid using your main bank account to protect it from any suspicious activity.
• If you suspect fraud, contact customer support immediately.
• Familiarize yourself with the process of requesting a refund and the situations when you’re eligible for one.

Scams Targeting DoorDash Itself

Even DoorDash itself isn’t immune to scams. Some drivers and customers might try to exploit certain loopholes and glitches for their financial gain at the platform’s expense.

DoorDash Scams Targeting DoorDash Itself

Here are some of the common techniques and methods others use to trick DoorDash.

Account Hacking

Hackers and scammers attempt to gain unauthorized access to DoorDash’s system to target both users’ data and funds.

The purpose of these attempts is to steal login or contact information that they can use for phishing attacks later on.

Cyber Shoplifting

Cyber Shoplifting can take a variety of methods. One popular method here is credit card churning, which is the act of creating multiple accounts with different credit cards to receive welcome gifts and bonuses from DoorDash.

Some scammers also use stolen credit card information to place orders and then request chargebacks after receiving the order.

Chargebacks can incur additional fees that may exceed the original value of the order. On a large scale, these can cause massive losses to DoorDash and its partners.

Stolen Accounts

We’ve discussed above that many DoorDash scammers will try to gain access to customer accounts through phishing attacks.

Scammers will then try to place large fraudulent orders using the victim’s stolen payment methods.

Fraudulent orders don’t only harm DoorDash, but may also affect the restaurants involved, as they might bear a part of the loss.

Doordash Gift Card Scams

Scammers can also send emails or texts pretending to be representatives or partners of DoorDash, offering free DoorDash gift cards or promotions for answering surveys.

These surveys would require entering personal information, such as names, addresses, and banking information.

They can also use phishing websites to gain access to this information and steal DoorDash credit, harming both customers and DoorDash in the process.

Doordash Tablet Scam

The Doordash Tablet Scam is a unique one because it specifically targets merchants on the platform.

Scammers pose as sales representatives from Doordash or third-party vendors, offering heavily discounted tablets and other devices essential for managing orders.

They also try to lure merchants who already have tablets by mentioning that their tablets come with additional incentives like extended warranty.

Once the merchant expresses interest, they request personal and business information, including bank account details or credit card numbers.

Scammers claim that the information is necessary for processing the transaction, but they use it to make unauthorized withdrawals of the merchant’s account.

Action Steps

While DoorDash continuously improves its security and monitoring methods to overcome scams, new vulnerabilities will always show up.

However, these scams can only stay effective as long as they’re exposed, and that’s where the collaboration between DoorDash and its users comes in handy.

As a user, you shouldn’t hesitate to report any unusual activities, including orders, deliveries, or suspicious behaviors.

DoorDash Countermeasures

DoorDash is aware of many of the previously mentioned scams and is actively using new systems and countermeasures to prevent them.

In fact, attempting some of those scams won’t only lead to deactivation, but also involve serious legal consequences, such as heavy fines or even jail time.

The company also implements a variety of countermeasures to ensure the security of its data and involved personnel, such as:

• Implementing two-factor authentications to enhance login security.
• Introducing SafeDash and SafeChat that facilitate emergency reporting and screen communication with customers respectively.
• Partnership with a leading security company (ADT) to provide Safety Reassurance Calls and Emergency Assistance Button.
• Sending real-time safety alerts about certain areas

Avoidance Tips

• Create a strong, unique password for your DoorDash account
• Report any anomalies or problems with your order to DoorDash
• Review account statements and report any issues related to DoorDash payments
• Regularly update your DoorDash app to gain the latest security updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up: Staying One Step Ahead of Scammers

While DoorDash is safe overall, the threat of scams does exist. Since these scams can affect all parties involved, fighting against them relies on the collective effort of users, drivers, and the platform itself.

This can contribute towards a safer, more secure environment while using the app, whether you’re a Dasher or a customer.

Have you ever experienced a scamming attempt through a delivery app like DoorDash? Let us know about your experience!