Thousands of illegal immigrants have been banned from working at Uber Eats after a major crackdown by the tech giant.
The US firm has reportedly blocked or sacked hundreds of takeaway couriers from using the app service.
The move followed a deal with the Home Office last year, which sought to introduce stricter rules about who could work for the delivery company.
It comes after MailOnline exposed how female Uber Eats delivery drivers were renting out their accounts for thousands of pounds to illegal immigrant men, seeking to dodge criminal record checks to work in the UK.
Users of the popular food delivery app have complained of drivers not matching their profile picture, with many promised a female driver only for a man to turn up instead.
Employment experts have said the practice is commonly exploited by people who have entered Britain illegally or who don’t have the right to work in the UK.
Account holders must verify their age, right to work, insurance and undergo a background check, including a criminal record check, before they can begin delivering for Uber Eats.
But some successful applicants go on to charge large amounts of money for access to their accounts for total strangers – who may have a criminal record or be unable to work illegally in the UK – raking in as much as £5,720 per year.
Unvetted Uber Eats delivery drivers are renting other people’s accounts online for as much as £5,720 per year, allowing them to circumvent criminal record and employment checks (stock image)
Uber Eats has reportedly sacked or blocked thousands of accounts of riders thought to be illegal migrants (file image of the Uber Eats app)
Employment lawyer Sejal Raja told MailOnline the practice ‘creates a dangerous grey market that exploits loopholes in the system and places all parties, especially workers, companies, and even customers at risk’.
Businesses including Uber Eats and Deliveroo have been forced to roll out tougher checks on riders using their apps.
According to the Telegraph, On Uber Eats, workers can now be asked at random to provide a selfie when they are working.
And when setting up accounts, couriers must now undergo video checks to make sure they have the legal right to work in Britain.
Under British employment law, freelancers working for app delivery firms can allow a ‘substitute’ to work in their stead.
However, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick warned last year warned this system was being taken advantage of by illegal immigrants.
Mr Jenrick, now a shadow justice secretary, called on courier firms to roll out tighter checks, in April.
Since then, Uber Eat, Deliveroo and Just Eat have committed to reinforcing checks and overhauling how people are employed by the firms.
In October, police stormed a caravan site near Bristol where dozens of undocumented workers had been living while working for delivery firms.
Deliveroo has also clamped down on the number of illegal migrants working for the firm
A total of 17 people were arrested during the bust, with police saying 13 were taken to a detention centre.
Earlier this month, Deliveroo told MPs it had sacked more than 100 workers who failed to provide valid right-to-work details.
Uber Eats has reported sacked or blocked hundreds each month in its clampdown.
A spokesman for the tech giant added: ‘We are constantly reviewing and improving existing processes to ensure they are as robust as possible.’
