DoorDash Couriers Targeted: Duo Charged in $1 Million Theft Scheme

The Federal Court for the Northern District of California has charged two Houston, Texas residents with stealing more than a million dollars from DoorDash delivery couriers. According to the indictment, Oluwatobi Otukelu and Evan Edwards embezzled wages from at least 138 couriers across six U.S. states over the past two years.

The fraudulent scheme involved using couriers’ personal data to deceive DoorDash’s customer support. The perpetrators would call support representatives, impersonating couriers who had allegedly lost access to their accounts. They would then request login details to be changed, redirecting payments to bank accounts under their control.

To verify the identity of the couriers, the fraudsters used various personal details, including phone numbers, dates of birth, recent transaction information, and even the last four digits of drivers’ licenses. The indictment does not specify the sources of this information but mentions the possible involvement of other accomplices.

In some cases, DoorDash requested selfies to verify the identity of couriers. In response, the fraudsters submitted their own photographs in an attempt to bypass the company’s enhanced security measures.

The stolen funds were used for personal expenses. For instance, in July 2023, one accomplice stole $759.88 from a courier’s account, with half of the sum going towards Edwards’ loan payment for a Mercedes C300 convertible. It was also revealed that the perpetrators had attempted to recruit DoorDash employees to participate in the scheme.

DoorDash confirmed the thefts and stated that the case was initially referred to the FBI. Otukelu and Edwards were arrested on September 26. The company reported that it has suspended employees involved in the fraudulent operation and expressed hope for the fair punishment of those responsible.