Walmart delivery drivers allege pay-to-play scheme by pirates, leading to corruption and threats

CHICAGO - Walmart delivery drivers claim pirates are squeezing them out in a pay-to-play scheme, involving drugs, cash, and cellphones.

The drivers are asking Walmart to take action in a plot that they say has resulted in corruption, intimidation, and even death threats.

"I used to go home in four hours and make my quota. Now I have to stay out here about 10 hours to make money," said Mario Manuel, delivery driver.

Independent suburban Walmart delivery drivers claim their customers are at risk.

"I always care for the security of the elderly people, which are the majority of my clients," said Sonny Zabala, Spark driver.

They allege hackers have taken over the Spark app that customers use to place orders for delivery. Not only are the hackers hoarding most of the orders, but the workers claim they are also using fake profiles to access the app and make those deliveries.

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"They're able to receive orders way before we do, and not just one order, but multiple orders, and that's obviously been devastating us financially, leaving us sitting for up to eight hours with up to a job or two, and some days we don't even make enough money for gas," Zabala said.

Those behind the hack allegedly refuse to redistribute orders to delivery drivers unless they pay them with cash, drugs, or cellphones, and in some cases have threatened honest workers when they come to pick up orders.

"Someone, and they're a professional, has hacked into the Spark app intercepting orders that belong to us," Manuel said.

The drivers are calling on Walmart to beef up app security and check IDs in person.

FOX 32 reached out to Walmart, and a spokesperson said they have been in touch with stores in Cicero, Bedford Park, and Forest Park, and they are continuing to take appropriate action in these specific incidents.

"We have zero tolerance for any type of harassment or threat of violence. If we become aware that someone using the Spark Driver platform has violated the terms of use by harassing or threatening someone, we investigate and take the appropriate action," the spokesperson said.

They also addressed the use of bot is an industry-wide issue. Drivers for Amazon Flex and InstaCart have reported similar issues.

 "Using bots on the Spark Driver platform is against the terms of use, and we investigate reports of specific driver bot use and deactivate drivers who are misusing the platform in this way" the spokesperson said.