'This is scary': California man got a tax slip for $7K he never earned after Uber driver stole his identity, couple says

Core Insights - The article highlights a case of identity theft involving Uber, where an individual received tax forms for earnings from gig work he did not perform, raising concerns about the company's screening process [1][2]. Group 1: Identity Theft Incident - Vahik Tatoosi received a welcome packet from Uber despite not applying for a job, leading to the discovery of nearly $7,000 in earnings attributed to him [1]. - Tatoosi and his wife suspect identity theft and have struggled to get a response from Uber's customer support [2]. - The couple's experience has raised concerns about the reliability of Uber's driver screening process, questioning who is actually picking up passengers [3]. Group 2: Uber's Background Check Process - Uber utilizes third-party providers for background checks on potential drivers, requiring applicants to submit personal information including Social Security number, full name, date of birth, government-issued ID, and a live profile photo [4]. - In response to identity theft claims, Uber stated that they permanently ban fraudulent accounts and issue updated tax forms to prevent affected individuals from owing taxes on fraudulent income [5]. Group 3: Proactive Measures - In light of the identity theft incident, Tatoosi and his wife have taken steps such as freezing their credit and enrolling in a credit-monitoring service while working with the IRS to rectify the situation [6]. Group 4: Employment Identity Theft Context - Employment identity theft, while not the most common type, is a significant issue in an increasingly digital world [7].