Uber connects more than 30 million people and supports millions of deliveries every day. That responsibility drives us to continuously strengthen our systems to ensure the platform remains safe and fair for all users. 

While no system is perfect, we’ve built industry-leading processes and technology to verify the identities of people who earn with Uber and to prevent fraudsters from gaining access to our platform. It’s not just the right thing to do for drivers and couriers, but also for consumers who deserve to know who they’re connecting with.

Keeping Uber both easy-to-use and strong enough to defend against fraud takes constant vigilance. Bad actors will always look for ways to circumvent policies and exploit apps like ours for personal and financial gain. This is challenging work that we’re committed to for the long haul.

What follows is an overview of our existing processes and technology in the U.S. including enhancements we’re putting in place this year to help to maintain a safe, trustworthy platform. 

Safeguarding identity at onboarding 

The foundation of a safe marketplace is a robust process to check that everyone who joins is who they say they are, and that they meet our requirements. At Uber, we take the following steps: failing at any point in the process means being barred from earning on our platform. 

  • Multi-step Screening Process: All drivers and couriers who use Uber must meet numerous eligibility requirements, including passing a criminal and driving history background check*, being 18 or over, providing a photo ID, and holding a valid Social Security number. 
  • Document Verification: We use our own technology and work with external partners to verify the authenticity of documents. For example, Social Security numbers are validated against IRS databases.
  • Profile Photo Validation: We require all drivers and couriers to add a profile photo, and we use a combination of technology and human review to help us confirm that the photo is genuine, accurate, and matches the ID provided. Since January, we’ve expanded our use of third-party technology to further strengthen our ability to detect and prevent profile photo fraud.  
  • Combating Repeat Offenders: We’ve built technology to stop people who’ve been banned from Uber from creating new accounts by detecting signups that use information, documents, and photos connected to a deactivated account. 

Ongoing fraud prevention and account integrity

Once a driver or courier has passed our signup checks and begins driving or delivering, our safety work doesn’t stop there. 

In the US, it’s our policy that only drivers and couriers who are registered to use the platform and approved through our screening process are permitted to complete trips or deliveries. Account sharing or renting is explicitly prohibited under our Community Guidelines. 

We take the following measures to help confirm that each trip or delivery is completed by the driver and courier whose account it is:

  • Ongoing Background Checks: Uber reruns criminal and motor vehicle checks (for driver and couriers driving cars) every year and also conducts continuous checks for new criminal records to ensure driver and couriers remain eligible to drive or deliver. 
  • Real-Time ID Checks: Because account sharing is not permitted, drivers and couriers are regularly prompted to take a selfie that we match against their verified profile photo. To avoid predictability, these checks are triggered at different times—for example, when a driver or courier goes online or between trips and deliveries. If the photos don’t match or fraud is detected, the account is temporarily blocked from going online and may be deactivated following a review.

  • Intelligent Fraud Monitoring: Over time, we’ve built a smart system to identify potential signs of fraud or account sharing—such as multiple devices being linked to one account—which can trigger more frequent Real-Time ID Checks for that driver and courier.  In 2025, we enhanced and expanded this technology, using machine learning tools to identify additional patterns and signals that may indicate that someone other than its owner is using an account.
  • Consumer Reporting: Riders, consumers, and merchants see a driver or courier’s profile photo in the app and can report suspected account sharing at any time. When a report is submitted, the driver and courier is required to reverify their account. 
  • Human Review Process: When our technology flags potential fraud, trained agents complete a multi-step review to ensure accuracy and fairness before any action is taken on the account. We’re committed to keeping these processes fair, accurate, and transparent—which is why drivers and couriers can request a review of an account deactivation decision and share additional information to support their case.

Reverifying – a quick check to keep trust on track

As part of our ongoing commitment to safety and fairness in 2025, we’re also asking all active U.S. drivers and couriers to reverify their identity using Uber’s latest technology. This quick, secure process ensures that everyone earning with Uber has passed the same checks and that their account information is current. Reverification helps prevent fraud, reinforcing trust and fairness across the platform.

Resources for the Uber community

Uber remains committed to supporting all drivers and couriers in meeting our requirements. They can find resources and guidance, including details on required documents, background checks, and identity verification in the app and on our website.

Consumers who believe the person completing their trip or delivery was not the driver or courier shown can report it here or through the Uber or Uber Eats app.

This post was last updated in October 2025.

*Motor vehicle check only applies to drivers and couriers using a car or motorcycle to drive or deliver.