Female Uber Eats delivery drivers are renting out their accounts for thousands of pounds to illegal immigrant men who want to bypass criminal record and employment checks. A legal loophole allows them to get away with it.
Users have complained about drivers not matching their profile picture, with many expecting a female driver only for a man to show up instead.
"This practice creates a dangerous grey market that exploits loopholes in the system and places all parties, especially workers, companies, and even customers at risk," said employment lawyer Sejal Raja.
Third-party sites offer account rentals for several hundred pounds a month. Some account holders use platforms like Facebook Marketplace to quickly earn cash by offering access at reduced prices from just £50 per month.
Uber Eats allows account holders to appoint 'substitute' drivers but does not carry out all the same checks. Substitute drivers must be over 18, have the right to work in the UK, pass a criminal background check, and have insurance.
"Firms such as Uber Eats are allowed to offer access to a substitute but the companies have been under increasing amounts of pressure because there has been this rise in illegal immigrants gaining access," said Emma Booksbrank from Freeths law firm.
There are serious concerns about customer safety through unregistered substitute drivers. Women have reported feeling unsafe after being matched with a female driver but finding a man instead at their door.
"This trend often stems from the dual pressures of opportunity and desperation," said employment lawyer Sejal Raja. "Addressing this requires stricter monitoring and enforcement by gig platforms."
"Food outlets that use Uber Eats rely on the drivers to represent their brand well," said Dr Emma Cunningham and Zoë Adjey from the University of East London. "Implementing better customer service and driver reporting systems would be beneficial."
An Uber Eats spokesperson stated: "All couriers must undergo checks to ensure they are over eighteen, have a legal right to work in the UK, and pass criminal background checks."