Controversy continues to swirl around Uber Technologies Inc. as the FBI has opened a probe into whether the company used software to interfere illegally with its competitors including Lyft, the Wall Street Journal reported citing sources familiar with the investigation. 

The FBI's New York office and the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office are leading the probe. An Uber spokesperson told the Journal that the company is cooperating with the investigation. 

People familiar with the matter said that Uber created fake Lyft customer accounts that tricked Lyft's system into believing customers were seeking rides around New York City. The program allowed Uber to see which Lyft drivers were in the area and what they were charging for the rides. 

The program was also used to find out which Uber drivers were also working for Lyft. 

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