How the fake text/tip scam works with new examples.
The delivery scam is a growing area of concern. Many couriers have encountered it in one form, or another. A previous article on this site addressed several different types of scams. That article is in the following link here. It’s a comprehensive list of current scams hitting drivers across all delivery apps. Furthermore, it has what to watch for, in order to avoid the scams. Of course it is an evolving threat. And whenever one scam shuts down, another pops up to take its place.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to have a general idea of what to watch for when running delivery. From a fake text, to general trickery, the delivery scam evolves and adapts. Therefore, couriers need all the protection they can get. There is an old saying: knowledge is power. Furthermore, a little knowledge can go a long way. So without any more delay, let’s begin with a golden rule. Not that one, although it’s a good one. However, this golden rule is for the solo courier, using a delivery app.
This is the golden rule every solo courier lives by: Never, ever accept or send money outside the official app – period. No exceptions. If a delivery customer wants to give the courier an extra $50 tip, great. They can hand it to the courier at the door. Or, leave cash under the welcome mat. Anything that involves the courier touching Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, gift cards, Bitcoin, and others, is an automatic scam.
How the Fake Text/Tip Scam Works
It’s happening almost every single day. Furthermore, it’s one of the most emotionally infuriating scams, because couriers feel stupid afterward. Even though the scam works by tricking anyone who’s trying to be helpful. Therefore, it’s important to take a look at how the fake text scam works. It’s also important to remember that there is a false incentive to lure the courier in. That incentive is a high dollar tip. This is how the scam works:
1. The courier accepts a normal looking offer from the queue. Nothing weird in the app. Maybe it’s a $8 – $15 payout. The drop-off is at a decent distance, and sometimes it’s even a stacked order.
2. The “customer” contacts the courier inside the app first. {so it feels legit} Furthermore, they usually start with something harmless.
- “Hey driver, can you grab an extra drink/cigs? I’ll tip you extra!”
- “The app isn’t letting me add a tip, can I send it another way?”
- “DoorDash is glitching again, can you text me when you’re close?”
3. They move you off the official app. Once the courier replies, they immediately say: “Can you text me at this number? The app chat keeps freezing.” or “Just easier if we talk on my phone.”
4. The fake text/fake payment is sent. Within a minute or two the courier gets a notification from whichever payment app is used. And it looks real.
- “You received $80 from John Smith.”
- “Sarah sent you $60 – “extra tip, thank you!” Many drivers see the money appear in their “pending” or even “available” balance and think it’s safe.
5. The “oops, I sent too much” twist {classic overpayment} 2 – 10 minutes later they text:
- “Oh no I accidentally sent $80 instead of $8, can you send the $72 back real quick?”
- “I meant to send $60 but hit $600 by mistake, please refund the extra before my bank reverses it.” They usually ask the courier to send it to a different account {“my roommates Cash App} or buy gift cards “for my kids birthday.”
6. You send the money back or buy the gift cards. Because the courier sees the $80 /$600 sitting in the courier’s account, it’s easy to believe the customer’s own money, is being returned. Therefore, the courier sends it back via Zelle, Cash App flip. Or scratches off and photographs gift cards.
7. A few hours or days later the original payment reverses. The scammer used a stolen/hacked account or a temporary “authorized” push in Cash App/Zelle. The bank or the real account owner disputes it, and the money is retrieved from the COURIER’S account.This means the courier is out whatever amount they sent. And the delivery app still only paid the original $8 – $15 base fare.
Fake Text Red Flags
Here are the basic red flags to watch for, that prove it’s 100% a scam.
- They try to move the courier away from the app in the first 1-2 messages.
- They bring up money/tipping before the courier makes the pick-up of the food.
- The payment notification comes way too fast. {real customers rarely tip that quickly}
- They ask the courier to send money back or buy gift cards.
- The name on the payment notification doesn’t match the customer name in the delivery app.
- They get pushy or start guilt tripping {“I’m disabled,” “It’s my kids birthday,” etc.}
If you encounter any of these red flags, remember the golden rule: Never, ever accept or send money outside the official app – period. And stay safe out there.
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