A DoorDash Driver Was Fired for Using AI to Fake Food Delivery

The driver sent an AI-generated image of the order at the customer’s door, but never actually showed up with the food.

By Jonathan Small | edited by Jessica Thomas | Jan 06, 2026
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A DoorDash driver got caught red-handed trying . The driver accepted an order in Austin, Texas, immediately marked it as delivered, and sent an AI-generated image of food sitting at the customer’s front door.

One problem: The order never actually arrived. Customer Byrne Hobart posted side-by-side photos on X showing the fake AI image next to his actual door, which looked nothing like it. DoorDash quickly investigated and permanently banned the driver from the platform. The company gave Hobart a refund and credit, and his poke bowl eventually showed up.

Hobart suspects the “Dasher” may have been a scammer who hacked a legitimate driver’s account to collect payments for fake deliveries. Another Austin customer reported the same scam with the same driver.

A DoorDash driver got caught red-handed trying . The driver accepted an order in Austin, Texas, immediately marked it as delivered, and sent an AI-generated image of food sitting at the customer’s front door.

One problem: The order never actually arrived. Customer Byrne Hobart posted side-by-side photos on X showing the fake AI image next to his actual door, which looked nothing like it. DoorDash quickly investigated and permanently banned the driver from the platform. The company gave Hobart a refund and credit, and his poke bowl eventually showed up.

Hobart suspects the “Dasher” may have been a scammer who hacked a legitimate driver’s account to collect payments for fake deliveries. Another Austin customer reported the same scam with the same driver.

Jonathan Small • Founder, Strike Fire Productions

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Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he... Read more
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