Food Digging – A Restaurant Run Scam to Lure In Customers
Food Digging: A New Scam Tactic Used in Dishonest and Unethical Restaurant Marketing to Lure Victims to their Venue
Catalog of Scams – A SCARS Institute Insight
Author:
• SCARS Institute Encyclopedia of Scams Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
Article Abstract
“Food digging” is a deceptive practice where restaurants create fake profiles on dating apps to lure people into their establishment under the guise of a date. The unsuspecting victim is stood up after arriving at the restaurant but often ends up buying food or drinks while waiting.
This tactic pushes people to consume at the restaurant, benefiting the establishment while exploiting the individual. This practice has been seen in countries like India and the U.S., posing ethical concerns about how businesses manipulate customers.
Food Digging: A New Scam Tactic Used in Dishonest and Unethical Restaurant Marketing to Lure Victims to their Venue
Ironically, it is Actually a Form of a Romance Scam, since it uses Dating Fake Profiles to Victimize
“Food digging” is an emerging marketing scheme used by some restaurants to draw in customers by leveraging dating apps. Here’s how it works: a fake profile on a dating app engages with a user, leading to a planned “date” at a specific restaurant. Once the unsuspecting person arrives, the date never shows up. However, the individual often ends up ordering food or drinks while waiting, benefiting the restaurant.
According to AFP:
After using fake reviews to harm competitors’ reputations, unscrupulous restaurant owners are now reportedly using dating apps to lure in customers in a trick that’s been dubbed “food digging”. The idea is to organise a “date” with a victim who then gets stood up but inevitably ends up buying something at the restaurant anyway.
The big night is finally here! You’re going to meet that guy you’ve been chatting to on your go-to dating app. After a few days of messaging, you’ve both decided to take the plunge and leave digital communication behind in favour of a real-world rendezvous. And your date has taken the lead in choosing the restaurant for this first meeting…
You arrive, you wait. And, in the end, your date never shows up, but, while waiting, you ordered a drink, then two, and perhaps something to eat.
It could almost be the plot of a B-movie. Unfortunately, it is reported to be taking place in the real world, in this case, in the United States, where a few days ago on TikTok, a user by the name of @Nosybystanders called out this deceptive new practice, dubbed “food digging”.
The idea is that restaurant owners are creating fake profiles on dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble or Happn, in order to get chatting to someone, arrange to meet them at their specific eatery, and then ultimately stand them up. And, since the jilted date is already in the restaurant, they order a drink or food while waiting. Or, when they realise they’ve been stood up, they go ahead and order dinner anyway. Ultimately, this “food digging” trick is all about pushing people to consume.
The unfortunate victims referred to by the influencer report that the restaurant owners involved are usually quick to suggest meeting and insist on a specific restaurant straight away – so this could be a red flag to watch out for. What’s more, after failing to turn up, the victim is quickly “unmatched” by the fraudster.
This kind of dubious scenario is said to have started in India, according to the content creator, and is now being seen in the US.
How Food Digging Works
- A fake profile is created on a dating app.
- The scammer engages in casual conversation, eventually setting up a date at a restaurant they are promoting.
- When the date is scheduled, the victim arrives at the restaurant but is stood up.
- Feeling obligated, the person may order food or drink while waiting, boosting the restaurant’s sales without realizing they’ve been misled.
No Scam or Deception is Harmless
While this scam is not likely to result in significant trauma to scam victims, it can have serious consequences, particularly since once a victim is known to the restaurant scammer, they are likely to lure the victim back several times. The effects of such repeated ‘failures’ or ‘no shows’ can adversely affect the confidence and perception of self-worth of the victims.
Locations and Spread
Food digging appears to be spreading in various regions, notably in countries like India and the U.S. As restaurants face increasing competition, some resort to these underhanded tactics to fill seats and increase revenue. The practice is illegal since it is fraud, unethical and manipulative, taking advantage of people’s emotions and intentions in romantic settings.
Ethical/Legal Concerns
This tactic raises significant ethical concerns, as it exploits the trust and time of individuals under false pretenses. Restaurants may benefit in the short term, but this practice can erode customer trust and damage reputations if exposed. However, simply put, this is deception and fraud and is unlawful.
In conclusion, food digging reflects a concerning trend in manipulative and unlawful marketing, and diners should be cautious about unexpected “dates” set up through dating apps at unknown restaurants.
Please Rate This Article
Please Leave Us Your Comment
Also, tell us of any topics we might have missed.
Leave a Reply
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.
Recent Reader Comments
on Understanding West African Scammers’ Operations as a Professional Subculture – 2025: “I met a young black teenager who confessed to me of his intention to scam me, but changed his mind…” Mar 14, 19:54
on Relationship Scams Represent a Corporate Cybersecurity and National Security Threat Because of Compromised Scam Victims – 2025: “It is shocking, sad but true how victims are being exploited on a daily basis. The worst is those that…” Mar 11, 12:21
on Sending A Letter To Your Scammer – Getting The Last Word – 2024: “I would love to be able to send this letter, but unfortunately I am a survivor of a pig butchering…” Mar 11, 03:11
on Don’t Stalk The Face In The Photo! It’s A Crime: “I appreciate this article as some of the information was not known by me. I did reach out to the…” Mar 9, 13:17
on Megan QT – Impersonation Victim – Stolen Photos Used By Scammers – [UPDATED 2024]: “I was a victim of the person that was using the pics and sent me messages for a period of…” Mar 7, 09:32
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started Right: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- Sextortion Scam Victims: Sextortion Victims Support – The Essentials (scamvictimssupport.org)
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Scammer photos ScammerPhotos.com
- SCARS Videos youtube.AgainstScams.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
To Learn More Also Look At Our Article Catalogs
Scam & Crime Types
More SCARS
- ScamsNOW Magazine – ScamsNOW.com
- ContraEstafas.org
- ScammerPhotos.com
- AnyScam.com – reporting
- AgainstScams.org – SCARS Corporate Website
- SCARS YouTube Video Channel
Wow l’m not any dating apps just Facebook and Instagram. Would it happen there too?