Ride-Hailing and Public Safety

A San Fernando Valley couple say they discovered in September 2025 that someone had used husband Vahik Tatoosi’s name and Social Security number to sign up as an Uber driver, then learned in early 2026 that the impostor had earned thousands of dollars when two IRS 1099 forms arrived in their mail. The pair report that reaching Uber proved difficult and that, despite assurances the matter was 'escalated,' the fraudulent driver continued working long enough to generate nearly $7,000 in income now attributed to Tatoosi for tax purposes. Identity Theft Resource Center CEO Eva Velasquez calls the case an example of 'employment identity theft,' warning that app-based and remote work make it easier for criminals to impersonate others using stolen SSNs when companies never meet workers in person. Uber, which says it relies on third-party background checks tied to personal identifiers and live photos, declined an on‑camera interview but said it has escalated the complaint and is investing in anti‑fraud systems, even as a similar 2024 lawsuit in Kern County alleged the company 'routinely' lets people drive under stolen identities. The couple have frozen their credit, enrolled in monitoring and are working with the IRS to correct their records, while experts urge Americans to obtain IRS identity-protection PINs, set up 'my Social Security' accounts and watch for surprise tax forms that can signal employment fraud.