Uber deactivates drivers to help prevent fraud and account sharing. However, since the I-Team's first report on the issue in April, additional drivers have contacted consumer investigator Jason Knowles, claiming they were incorrectly flagged for fraud and removed from the platform.
Moises Butron, a rideshare driver from Chicago's Belmont Cragin neighborhood, said Uber wrongly deactivated his account after he submitted an updated REAL ID driver's license.
"I just want the opportunity one more time to get back on the road, because Uber has helped me pay my rent, pay my bills, even bring food on the table," Butron said.
Butron said the issue began in late 2025 when Uber flagged his updated driver's license as fraudulent. Unlike his previous license, his REAL ID does not include his middle initial because that initial does not appear on his birth certificate.
"And both are real. Yeah, both are valid," Butron said.
Valorie Maloney of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin said she experienced a similar issue after losing her Uber driving privileges.
"It just says, 'you've been deactivated for fraud,'" Maloney said.
When asked whether any of her documents were fraudulent, Maloney responded, "No."
Maloney said she has a valid driver's license that was updated to reflect her married name.
"I don't know how they can fix it, other than having real people that you can call, someone that you can call in a case like this," she said.
Another driver, Joe Covington, said he had been trying to regain access to the platform since 2022 after inspection documents were allegedly flagged incorrectly. Now he's back on the road.
"I know it's because the I-Team. Because just a month ago or two months ago, I was emailing and texting and the same thing," Covington said.
Uber said a vehicle inspection document contained altered dates, but Covington has now been reactivated because he was "banned under previous policies."
Covington said the documents were never altered and believes a mistake may have occurred.
Maloney and Butron also have been reinstated after the I-Team provided their documentation to Uber.
"I'm ready to get back on the road in Uber," Maloney said.
Uber also reviewed several additional cases provided by the I-Team, and most of those drivers have since been reinstated.
In a statement, Uber said: "Removing a driver's access to the platform is never a decision we take lightly. We're continuously improving our fraud detection systems to help ensure our deactivation decisions are as accurate as possible..."
The company said it is strengthening its review process so drivers can request additional reviews for reactivation. Butron said he is grateful to be back on the platform.
"I'm very grateful, and thank you very much Mr. Jason for helping me out and get the opportunity to get back on the road," he said.
Some drivers featured in the I-Team reports have questioned whether artificial intelligence played a role in the wrongful deactivations.
Uber said drivers may initially be flagged by "detection systems," but a human reviewer made the errors in these cases.
The company also said no driver is deactivated from the platform without a human review.