By Ghazali Ibrahim
An investigation by Techpoint Africa has uncovered significant weaknesses in the verification systems of food delivery platforms Glovo and Chowdeck, after reporters successfully created a fake restaurant and completed real orders on both apps.
The probe was triggered by a complaint from a Lagos-based food vendor, ‘corporate ewa’, whose brand was being impersonated on Glovo.
To test the system, investigators selected a well-known restaurant not listed on the platforms and used publicly available information, including stolen images from its social media pages, to set up a fraudulent store.
On Glovo, the process required basic details such as a business name, address, tax ID, and bank information. The team used a fake tax ID and a personal bank account, yet the platform did not flag any discrepancies. Within minutes, Glovo approved the registration and sent a partnership agreement.
Further “verification” only involved uploading a menu and food images, all copied from the original restaurant. Even after submitting a falsified CAC document, the fake business was approved within days, onboarded, and provided with a device for managing orders. The store went live, and an order was successfully processed and delivered.
Chowdeck showed slightly stricter checks by rejecting mismatched registration details. However, the platform still allowed the fake restaurant to operate under a restricted access policy meant for small or unregistered businesses. Within an hour, the store was live, and a successful order was completed using fake credentials and stolen images.
The investigation found that while Chowdeck claims to verify businesses through third-party partners, its allowance for provisional access creates a loophole that can be exploited. Glovo, on the other hand, showed no clear evidence of cross-checking business information with official databases.
The report points to a broader issue: Nigeria’s food delivery sector lacks clear regulation and enforcement. Unlike fintech, where strict KYC rules are mandatory, there are no specific laws governing how delivery platforms verify vendors. Agencies like the FCCPC and NAFDAC have overlapping but limited roles, leaving gaps in oversight.
Analysts warn that these lapses could expose consumers to fraud and food safety risks, especially as the sector continues to grow without robust safeguards.
