A San Fernando Valley couple said an Uber driver stole her husband’s identity to sign up for the ride-sharing platform, raising questions about public safety and the thoroughness of driver vetting.
Vahik Tatoosi and his wife first learned of the alleged identity theft in September 2025, when they received a package welcoming Tatoosi as a new Uber driver. The problem, they say, is that no one in their family has ever driven for Uber.
“At first, we laughed it off and thought, ‘What is this?'” Tatusi said. “Then we started to worry.”
The couple tried contacting Uber but said it was nearly impossible to reach a live representative. They were eventually able to communicate through the Uber app and were informed that the issue had been escalated to the appropriate support team.
Photo of Vahik Tatoosi and his wife Anna Kojoyan. / Image source: CBS LA
The matter resurfaced last month when the couple received two IRS 1099 tax forms indicating someone had made thousands of dollars working for Uber using Tatoosi’s name and Social Security number.
“It’s terrible,” Tatusi said. “This is your identity.”
Tatusi’s wife, Anna Kojoyan, said the situation went beyond identity theft and raised serious public safety concerns.
“I think it’s a serious issue, not only as it relates to identity theft, but also to public safety,” Kochoyan said. “People, young women, kids, teenagers, they use Uber thinking that all drivers go through background checks. But obviously you never know who’s going to pick you up.”
According to Uber’s website, the company uses third-party vendors to conduct background checks. Prospective drivers must submit a Social Security number, full name, date of birth, government-issued ID and a live profile picture before they are allowed to drive.
Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, said cases like Tatusi’s are an example of employment identity theft, which is a growing problem nationwide.
“This is a form of employment identity theft or abuse,” Velasquez said. “We have to understand that our data is out there. It’s out in the wild.”
Velazquez said the rise of remote and app-based work has made it easier for criminals to impersonate others, especially when employers and workers never meet face-to-face.
A tax form received by Vahik Tatoosi claimed that he allegedly earned nearly $7,000 while working at Uber. / Image source: CBS LA
“Your Social Security number and other personal information may be used for employment purposes,” she said. “That’s certainly the case with Uber.”
This problem has arisen in other cases. In 2024, a Kern County man sued Uber after receiving a tax form showing $53,000 in income from the company, even though he had never worked for the company. The lawsuit says it took the IRS a year to resolve the matter and claims Uber “routinely allows individuals to use the personal information of others to work for it as rideshare or delivery drivers.”
Uber declined CBS LA’s request for an on-camera interview but said in a statement that it had escalated Tatoosi’s complaint.
“Methods to defraud companies are constantly evolving,” the company said. “At Uber, we are committed to investing in robust anti-fraud systems and detection capabilities to keep up with new and enhanced fraud technologies.”
The Identity Theft Resource Center recommends that consumers obtain an IRS Identity Protection PIN, create a My Social Security account with the Social Security Administration and monitor it regularly. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of employment fraud should contact the IRS immediately and file a fraud report.
Tatusi and his wife said they had frozen their credit and signed up for credit monitoring services. They are currently working with the IRS to resolve the fraudulent income reported in Tatusi’s name.
“Income is reported in our name,” Kochoyan said. “Now we have to contact the IRS and let them know what’s going on because they want us to pay taxes on it.”
Uber says it uses a multi-level fraud detection process and rescreens drivers every year.
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