Restaurants Being Targeted In Reservation Scam

Restaurants Being Targeted In Dinner Reservation Scam

An Auckland business association is warning cafes, restaurants, and bars to be wary of emails that are circulating requesting dinner reservations.

“A couple of restaurants have alerted me to these bogus emails that appear pretty innocent to start with but ultimately are designed to rip businesses off. In fact, some of the emails look quite official, with one even claiming to be from a bunch of visiting British delegates wanting to make a booking,” says Cameron Brewer, chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association.

“The emails seem quite plausible at the beginning and given it’s a quiet winter most restaurateurs would be pleased to receive an advance booking. However the secret is not to enter into any prolonged email dialogue. The scammers are clever enough not to ask for credit card details up front, but after several emails they’ll try to twist it that way."

"They're designed to get the restaurateur very keen from the outset. However after several emails they then give the impression that they might not be able to honour the booking unless the restaurateur helps them out of a spot of trouble."

“If restaurants are getting bookings that look a bit strange from the outset, but they’re not sure, they should try ringing what is a bogus phone number at the bottom of the email, or ask the sender to ring them. That will probably put an end to it.

“Once upon a time, the likes of Nigerian scammers would ask for money upfront, supposedly to help release a much bigger sum that you’d somehow won. These days however, with everyone that much more savvy, scammers are coming through the back door. In this case they give the illusion that they’re set to spend serious money in the recipient's business. It can sound quite attractive, if you’re not paying much attention, but gradually it goes down hill from there.

“It’s cruel because a lot of New Zealand hospitality businesses have been hurting over the last 18 months. Thankfully most are very streetwise and we haven’t heard of anyone falling into the trap. But then again who’s going to admit it? Email scams are a numbers game, and it only takes one here and there to make it worth the sender's while.

“We’re really keen to issue the warning. Given these emails are sent via make-believe Yahoo and Hotmail accounts they're almost impossible to trace, and it’s not worth trying to engage the authorities. It’s very much a case of business beware.

"It's a good reminder to never give your credit card details over email to someone you don't know, no matter how good someone's excuses sound. We're saying to hospitality businesses: Don't be manipulated by their claim that they're about bring some really good business to you. They have absolutely no intention of turning up, let alone paying.

"This kind of scam is nothing new, but it seems to have made a come back when are a lot of businesses are arguably quite vulnerable,” says Cameron Brewer.

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