Warning Issued for Rising 'No-Show Scams': Impersonating Public Institutions to Demand Money
Recently, there has been a series of 'no-show scams' where individuals impersonate public institutions or companies to place bulk orders at restaurants and then swindle money, prompting a call for extra caution among citizens.
These scams typically begin with a phone call to a restaurant, where the caller introduces themselves as an event coordinator for a public institution or a large corporation. After building trust by requesting a large order of lunch boxes or a reservation for a company dinner, the perpetrators suddenly ask the restaurant owner to purchase specific items on their behalf or demand an advance payment.
The scammers deceive restaurant owners by promising that if they pay for the goods first, the money will be returned along with the payment for the food later. However, once the restaurant owner transfers the money, the perpetrators cut off contact and disappear, leaving the victim with financial losses.
Police have emphasized that public institutions and companies almost never request the proxy purchase of goods or demand advance payments. Therefore, if a bulk order received from an unfamiliar number involves a request for a financial transaction, it is essential to verify the request by calling the institution's official number directly.
To prevent falling victim to such scams, one should immediately stop the transaction and report it to the police if any suspicious demands are made. Small business owners are urged to familiarize themselves with these new types of fraud to ensure that no further damage occurs.