Topics: Food and Drink, Social Media, Technology, TikTok, Uber, US News
A woman is encouraging others to use a different name when ordering food on delivery apps after experiencing a terrifying ordeal with a driver.
For most of us, tucking into a Friday night takeout thanks to apps like Uber Eats is easier than ever, but does the convenience come at a cost to our safety?
It does according to Olivia Ponton, who took to social media to warn other women about the dangers of using their real name when using delivery service apps.
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Not only has she suggested women use a man's name on their profile, but advised deleting photos or anything that points to your identity on the app.
The advice comes after Olivia had a particularly frightening experience with a driver.
Olivia - who has more than 7.5 million followers on her TikTok page - started the now viral video by saying: "Never put your real name or a photo of yourself on Uber, Uber Eats, Lyft, Doordash, any of it. Let this be your sign...
"Matter of fact, change it to a guy's name, Jason, Jake, John. Anything. And just delete the photo."
She explained she was left 'shaking in my literal boots' for 20 minutes after her delivery driver allegedly wouldn't stop banging on her door.
She continued: "I was standing there. I didn't know what to do. I was literally frozen."
To make matters worse, Olivia claimed the delivery driver was 'covering the little peephole with the bag', so she couldn't see who it was.
"I couldn't even match up the photo on Uber Eats with him", she added. "We're not safe out here".
And it seems like Olivia isn't alone, as other women came forward to share how they have had similar scary experiences with delivery drivers and gave their own top tips on how to stay safe on apps.
One said something similar happened to them on Uber Eats and 'since then put a picture of a stop sign on my account' while another said their driver 'stood outside my house for 15 mins' which was 'lowkey scary'.
Another woman said an employee 'wouldn't leave my building today for almost an hour, just pacing between my apartment and my other neighbors (both girls as well)'.
The story has since inspired others to take the extra precaution by and changing their names and photos on the apps.
A woman commented: "Wait, just changed everything. Thank you" while another said all her apps have the username Lee.
Another said it's 'horrible we have to do this' but praised Olivia for the good advice before suggesting her own tip, which involves putting a pair of men's shoes at the front door.
The TikTok user added: "Pick them up at goodwill, wherever, just wards off people with bad intentions."
To successfully deliver items, most takeaway delivery companies will need to share information about the order to its drivers, including the name on the account, the location and the order ID.
An Uber Eats representative told Business Insider last year that their drivers cannot see a user's credit card, phone number, the rating they give, a profile photo or a last name.
Uber Eats has been contacted for comment.
