13/07/2025
Dear Restaurant Owners, Mithai Shops, and Other Food Outlets,
Please be aware of a scam currently targeting food businesses.
A woman may call your outlet claiming that she had purchased food from your restaurant or store, and that her son is now hospitalized due to food poisoning caused by your product.
She may say that she has a bill and photographs to prove it, and will threaten to visit your outlet with influencers, videographers, and media representatives to create a scene. She may also mention that hospital expenses were approximately ₹10,000 and ask, “Who will pay the bills now?” — indirectly demanding money from you.
Several businesses have fallen prey to this scam, choosing to pay her in order to avoid public drama or being featured negatively on self-proclaimed social media news channels.
Tips to Handle the Situation:
Speak to the caller in your local language. They usually speak Hindi.
Do not pay them anything.
Ask them to visit your outlet and verify the bill and products.
Check your CCTV footage to confirm whether they actually visited on the mentioned date and time.
Send a sample of the same food for testing at an authorized quality control lab.
Inform the police if you suspect it’s a scam.
Stay alert and don’t fall for such fraudulent tactics.
