Nearly half of gig workers sell or share accounts for driving and making deliveries - highlighting a big security risk

"Gig work apps such as Uber, DoorDash, and Walmart's Spark have told Business Insider that they don't allow users to share their accounts with other people. It can pose a safety risk to the apps and the people who rely on them, since the apps vet workers when they sign up. Twenty-five percent of the gig workers surveyed said they had rented out their account, while 20% said they had sold an account."

"On Facebook, Telegram, and other social media platforms, users can find ads offering to sell or rent accounts for gig work apps. Many also offer third-party programs, called "bots" by gig workers, which claim to give users an edge in claiming deliveries. At Walmart, some Spark delivery drivers have shown up at stores or customers' homes using names that don't appear to match who they actually are, Business Insider reported in 2023."

Forty-five percent of gig workers said they had rented or sold access to a gig work account, with 25% renting and 20% selling accounts. Gig platforms such as Uber, DoorDash, and Walmart's Spark prohibit account sharing because it can create safety risks and undermine worker vetting. Ads on Facebook, Telegram, and other social media platforms offer accounts and third-party programs called "bots" that claim to improve delivery claims. Some Spark drivers have appeared using names that do not match their IDs, prompting measures such as in-person ID checks. The sample included 1,012 adults who were current, recent, or prospective gig workers.

Read at Business Insider