00:02In need of extra income, Andrew Rhodes turned to what he felt like was the easiest side hustle.
00:09Food delivery apps.
00:10But he was soon hit with a setback he didn't see coming.
00:14It's like they have a script, like they're super confident in everything.
00:17They say it's pretty easy to get swept off your feet at the time.
00:20Hello, this is Andrew speaking.
00:22Hey Andrew, this is DoorDash Support.
00:25Your order has just been cancelled.
00:27I just need you to verify some details for me.
00:31Mr Rhodes was asked to provide personal details to ensure payment, only to find his earnings wiped the next day.
00:39It's not uncommon.
00:40The Transport Workers Union says it's helped recover more than $50,000 in stolen funds.
00:47Platforms have a job to protect them because they're vulnerable to scams.
00:51They don't know where to go.
00:53They've got no one to talk to when this happens.
00:55Scammers break into delivery drivers' accounts using what's referred to as a brute force attack.
01:00It's a technique that uses automated tools to generate password combinations until the right one is cracked.
01:06The method, combined with phishing scams, cost Australians more than $97 million last year.
01:13The question then would be, do they have sufficient controls to limit brute force, keep the bad guys out,
01:18while still making it easy for the good guys to get in if they just forget their pin.
01:22DoorDash and Uber Eats say they're working hard to combat scams on their platforms.
01:27Andrew Rhodes is back on the road and is taking precautions.
01:32It really does help.
01:33It's helped with all my bills.
01:34It's helped me get ahead.
01:35It's helped me go on holiday already.
01:36So, you know, it is pretty disheartening when somebody tries to take that, you know, hard-eared money from you.
01:43So, you know, it's helped me get out of the road and it's helped me get out of the road
01:46and it's helped me get out of the road.
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