> At a Glance
> – A viral Reddit post claiming insider abuse at a food-delivery firm was fabricated
> – The 18-page “internal memo” and driver badge were AI-created
> – Post scored 87,000 upvotes and 36.8 million impressions on X before debunking
> – Why it matters: Cheap generative tools now let anyone seed mass-market misinformation in minutes
A post that raced to Reddit’s front page-alleging a delivery giant exploited legal loopholes to skim driver tips-has collapsed under scrutiny. The supposed drunk employee writing from a public-library PC was using AI to spin the entire tale.
How the Hoax Unfolded
The poster opened with a grabby line: “You guys always suspect the algorithms are rigged against you, but the reality is actually so much more depressing than the conspiracy theories.” From there, the user spun a detailed story of wage theft and tip skimming.
Momentum built quickly:
- 87,000 Reddit upvotes
- Cross-post to X that added 208,000 likes and 36.8 million impressions
- A flood of supportive comments citing earlier real cases (DoorDash paid a $16.75 million tip-theft settlement in 2022)
Verification Breakdown
Platformer’s Casey Newton requested proof. The Redditor sent:
- A photo of an Uber-Eats employee badge
- An 18-page technical document describing an AI model that assigns drivers a “desperation score”
Both artifacts looked legitimate, but Newton ran checks:
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| Google Gemini scan for SynthID watermark | Badge flagged as synthetic |
| Close read of memo | Text patterns typical of LLM output |
> “Who would go to the trouble of creating a fake badge?” Newton wrote, noting that generative AI now removes the time-cost barrier that once deterred casual hoaxers.
The New Playbook
Max Spero, whose firm Pangram Labs detects AI text, told News Of Philadelphia:
> “AI slop on the internet has gotten a lot worse… companies with millions in revenue can pay for ‘organic engagement’ on Reddit, which is actually just… going viral with AI-generated posts.”
Detection tools exist but lag behind sharing speed. Even when a fake is exposed, the content has already circled the globe.
Key Takeaways
- Generative AI lets anyone craft convincing documents and ID badges in minutes
- Viral reach no longer signals credibility: 87k upvotes can be gamed
- Reporters now run AI-detection as a standard step, not a last resort
- Readers should treat sensational insider claims-especially on Reddit-with extra skepticism
One weekend, two separate food-delivery hoaxes hit Reddit’s front page. Expect more copycats as long as outrage equals easy clicks.
