The Cyberpunk We Deserve. How Couriers Steal Packages Using AI Deepfakes
It seems we can no longer even trust our own eyes.
It seems we can no longer even trust our own eyes.
A scandal recently erupted around the delivery platform DoorDash after a report of an attempted scam by one of its couriers surfaced online. Bernard Hobart, a resident of Austin, Texas, shared that he placed an order, which was instantly marked as delivered. Instead of a real photo, he was sent an AI-generated image supposedly showing his order at his door. Of course, in reality, no order was delivered—the courier simply kept it for themselves.
Later, another user confirmed experiencing a similar situation, involving the same courier named Matthew and also in Austin. This only fueled public interest in the incident and amplified the backlash.
As noted by the first victim, the perpetrator likely used a hacked account and a modified smartphone. The image of the client's door was possibly obtained through a built-in DoorDash feature that allows viewing photos from previous deliveries. This combination of access and fabricated visual evidence could have enabled the courier to pass off undelivered orders as completed.
DoorDash responded to the situation promptly. A company representative stated that after an investigation, the courier's account was deleted, and the client was refunded. The company emphasized that fraud is unacceptable and that it employs both automated controls and manual moderation to detect it.
The incident raises an important question about how easily technological capabilities can be abused even in everyday situations, such as food delivery. It also highlights how vulnerable both customers and digital platforms can be without additional safeguards against such scenarios.
