In an unfortunate turn of events, a restaurant fell victim to a malicious prank that left the establishment in disarray.
The mastermind behind the mischief was a loanshark who had duped the eatery by placing an extravagant seafood takeaway order totaling $574 and insisting on cash payment upon delivery, according to 8 World News.
What happened?
The targeted restaurant, known as House of Seafood, is the brainchild of founder Huang Minlai (transliteration). The incident unfolded on the night of December 22, at 10:35 pm, leaving the restaurant owner lamenting the stroke of misfortune.
According to Huang Minlai, a man claiming to place a food order called the restaurant and requested the menu be sent to him for perusal. After reviewing the options, the man placed an order, including items such as black pepper crab, Alaskan chili crab, steamed red snapper, chili clams, a hot pot dish, and five servings of rice, amounting to $573.45.
Restaurant owner personally delivered the order
The twist in the tale came when the customer, citing issues with Paynow, insisted on paying in cash. Huang Minlai, wanting to accommodate the customer, personally delivered the prepared food to the provided address in Block 830 of Woodlands Street 83.
Upon arrival, Huang Minlai found the door open, and a male resident greeted him, assuming the delivered feast was a surprise gift from a friend. It was only when the resident clarified that he hadn’t placed any orders that Huang Minlai realized he had been pranked.
Caught in the middle
Realizing the extent of the prank, Huang Minlai engaged in a video call with the alleged customer who placed the order in the first place, discovering that he was a loanshark and that he had fallen victim to a ruse.
The customer, however, remained defiant, shouting at the resident to pay back the money that he owed, before insisting to the restaurant owner that the address was correct and demanding Huang Minlai resolve the matter with the resident.
The resident then shouted back at the man over the phone tellin ghim to come and collect the debt himself if he has the guts.
Helpless in the situation, Huang Minlai couldn’t compel anyone to foot the bill and had no choice but to leave. With the clock ticking late into the night, the restaurant had to dispose of nearly $574 worth of food, resulting in significant financial loss.
The restaurant manager, expressing dismay at the incident, revealed that this was the first time such a scam had occurred. Determined to address the issue, they contacted the prankster again, only to be met with further defiance and a request for a second delivery.
Considers reporting to police
In light of this unfortunate experience, the restaurant manager hopes to raise awareness and caution other businesses to prevent falling victim to similar scams. The possibility of reporting the incident to the authorities is also being considered.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by businesses, even in the realm of food delivery, where malicious pranks can lead to financial losses and disrupt operations.