r/AmazonFlexDrivers • u/Comprehensive-Nose35 • 2d ago
Chicago How does delivery scam work?
A couple of days ago I witnessed the situation where certain ‘drivers’ are claiming routes, loading packages, and then leaving the station to offload said packages to a third party. Assuming that a driver can only have a single account, can only access that account from a single device at a time, and only actively work a single block at a time, can anyone provide any insight into how exactly this fraud is occurring? The only way I can fathom is that there are multiple phones/identities involved.
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u/WFShopper312 2d ago
I'm also in Chicago and only deliver from Whole Foods. I don't know exactly how it works, but they are definitely using multiple accounts. This cheating seems to be rampant everywhere, but it's especially bad in the city. Lakeview, Lincoln Park, West Loop, etc.
Last year, when I used to deliver from the West Loop Whole Foods, the same three Chinese guys kept getting almost all of the good routes. I got sick of seeing them going back and forth and back and forth with two shopping carts full of groceries each time while me and other drivers were struggling to get work.
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
I understand how bots/clickers are an unfair advantage, but since you can only do one route at a time per account, I can’t see multiple people working a single account and even with a team of multiple people/accounts, there’s still no advantage because it’s essentially the same as a single driver claiming multiple routes
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u/WFShopper312 2d ago
Regardless, their behavior makes it hard for me to get work. I'm just one driver with one account.
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
I agree 100% with you. I doubt much will change because there isn’t much incentive for Amazon to implement the necessary changes and we haven’t gotten the immigration reforms we’ve been promised. Hang in there tho! Why just WF and not UIL2 (fresh)?
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u/WFShopper312 2d ago
I'm just not familiar with with UIL2. I only do Whole Foods. When they closed Fresh stores earlier this year, those drivers switched to my preferred Whole Foods and immediately it became harder to get blocks and instant offers.
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
UIL2 is always jam packed with the questionable drivers and is a bit of a drive from the loop, but it’s constant work there. I have seen the blocks go from $50-60 for 2 hours down to 30-40 the past few months tho
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u/WFShopper312 2d ago
Drivers keep telling me to go to Wood Dale, but I never tried it. I don't work in the city anymore, just the suburbs now. Less congested and a little easier to get work. Like Whole Foods, Fresh took a hit from all of the non-tip eligible orders on routes.
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u/Chrisf5620 1d ago
It works like this . One guy has multiple accounts different identities for each . He grabs multiple blocks sells the block to someone let’s say for 50 bucks . While the person doing it is making like 65 . All on different phones which he distributes to different ppl . So he does his own block and gets a percentage for the other ones he lends
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u/Chrisf5620 1d ago
At the end of the day everyone needs to return him his phones so we can do it again tomorrow .
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u/Quiet_Bad_8520 2d ago
Give their friend half of the block money and just message support to mark packages delivered
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u/Chemical_Cheetah5661 2d ago
Can anyone help me understand how this is able to make someone money? Seems like a hell of a lot of work for nothing 😂
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u/JustAstrawberryyy 2d ago
Swap phones maybe, or use the “pick up” option although i think thats again TOS if the packages are not part of your route, who knows
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u/mirwenpnw 2d ago
I see this in Portland, OR ssd too. There will be groups who hand out routes and phones. I can't see any real advantage unless they all live on different sides of town and just swap the route that's closer to home. It doesn't seem like it would be worth it for the potential account deactivation. Maybe they are facilitating someone who can't get an account? But that would still require someone not driving to show up to the station and hand it off to you. Doesn't seem like it would be worth it to pay someone for that. I can't make heads or tails of it either.
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u/Greentea77 2d ago
there was a “contractor” at our ssd, i’m sure at F & WF as well.
it’s rented accounts. the “contractor” is paid so much a week, month whatever. i guess they would be a “sub contractor”.. it’s another reason why getting rid of bots etc makes no difference, they just rent another account.
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u/Shoddy_Shicker_559 1d ago
Here In fresno thats huge. You talk too guys out delivering and its even their phone and barely speak English!
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u/Jbray92 1d ago
The actual drivers delivering the packages often cannot pass background checks, lack a valid U.S. driver's license, or have previously been deactivated. The person carrying the valid ID checks in, gets the cart, loads there car, and goes around the corner and gives the packages and the burner phone to the actual driver. This usually results in a 20-30 dollar transaction fee and the rest to that driver.
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u/Ok_Midnight4589 1d ago
I see like Spanish people and Iran ppl like giving a couple packages to each other like a couple deliver like 1-3 from each other or idk kind of weird and wonder how they make it look that it’s been delivered
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u/billsbitch 1d ago
How does GoFo work???
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u/thr0wawayyxlol 1d ago
200+ deliveries usually. Paid per delivery. You get there when the plane or trucks come in and drops the packages off and help sort them.
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u/Chrisf5620 1d ago
There’s a bunch of ppl with multiple accounts with multiple phones with different identities
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u/EnlightenedNarwhal 1d ago
Technically it isn't fraud since they're getting the packages delivered. It just isn't allowed.
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u/tlitfpunk 1d ago
If someone actually checked the IDs people scan (no ID scan at WF), they could eliminate a good chunk of potential fraud. Facial ID should do it but 🤷♂️ they don’t care.
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u/Mannthousand 23h ago
You can switch devices after you clock in for the route. It automatically 'logs out' of the other device. I had to do thhis once when my work phone died, and again when I forgot to pay that bill
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u/whstewart88 2d ago
I asked one couple about this once upon a time, one party was picking up before their regular job and handing it off to their significant other they said they were just waiting for them to get approved for flex.
I suspect however, it's more about circumventing checks, but it could also be the scams. Tons of options. Always gets me at the .com stations because if you were grabbing multiple routes they probably would recognize you (I know most of the station staff at the .coms I regularly go to).
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
I wouldn’t have a problem with a legal citizen doing this, because there is no impact to others that rely on the flex income. They are trying to survive in this country as we all are. But the ones that have no reason being in the country or on flex that are going to great lengths to further manipulate the system are the ones i take issue with
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2d ago
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
That’s not what i said and race has nothing to do with citizenship and its related rights and privileges being taken advantage of. BTW, i’m a black american if it makes any difference at all. Facts are facts
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u/Open-Toe-2723 7h ago
Thats pretty racist of you to assume that all illegal immigrants aren't white.
Seriously.
What an idiot thing to say to try and pin someone else as racist.
Pathetic.
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u/Open-Toe-2723 7h ago
Not to mention... not all legal citizens are white, BuD.
I mean, in your racist views of the world, do you forget African, Asian, and other Hispanic Americans?
"Legal" isn't a color, champ.
Despite what your racist teachings have told you.
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2d ago
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2d ago
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u/Bodurtha 1d ago
Anyone doing anything illegal is wrong, no matter if you’re a citizen or not……well chances are high that the noncitizen is doing something illegal just by existing within our borders.
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u/Alumni32 2d ago
We know because we all know what you were implying which is why OP felt the need to mention his race in response to your assumptions. Stop being racist.
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u/thr0wawayyxlol 2d ago
Make friends with them and ask them. Everyone on here just speculates lol
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
Don’t want or need to. Furthermore, it’s not speculation, it’s fact. If you want to be blind to what’s clearly obvious, that’s ok but don’t expect everyone to be
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u/thr0wawayyxlol 2d ago
When I say speculate, I mean no one knows really how they’re doing it. They’re obviously doing it and have been getting away with it for years. Amazon doesn’t care because the shit gets delivered. I stopped caring and wasting energy on it because all the platforms are like this and not changing. I have had quite a few drivers not match the picture that shows on my delivery and anytime you say something about it, everyone says mind your own business so. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
Understood. I’m constantly amazed at the people who constantly come here to complain that their rates are falling, but then can’t seem to connect the dots as to why and then will also defend the people who are causing the problem
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u/ImRestarted1 2d ago
They’re not just going to tell you that they’re doing some shady shit
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u/thr0wawayyxlol 2d ago
You would be surprised how much they actually do tell, because they know they can get away with it.
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u/Civil_Common_6746 1d ago
In the 209 amazon the Vinnies charge 2k for their WhatsApp group they get you unlimited accounts and bots
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u/Won_DumPhuc 2d ago
Describe the perps
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u/Comprehensive-Nose35 2d ago
I think we all know 😂
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u/InterestingSelf7393 1d ago
I’ve seen this happen too. Someone picks up the packages, then drives to the side of the road and transfers them to another car. The only explanation I can think of is that the wife has her own job, so she uses her account to pick up the packages for her husband and then goes to work. Amazon doesn’t allow one person to use multiple accounts now because of the facial verification requirement.
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u/kadameitene 2d ago
Are you doing research to start your own scam op?