Bengaluru Hotels Targeted by Scamsters Posing as Food Influencers

In Bengaluru, a rising trend of scamsters impersonating food influencers has led to several hotels being deceived into offering free meals. A recent incident at the iconic Vidyarthi Bhavan in Gandhi Bazaar exemplifies the issue: a family of four dined at the restaurant and left without paying, claiming prior permission for a food review.

Incident Details:

Scam Tactics: The group asked for permission to shoot content, ate the food, and then claimed the owner had authorized the free meal, refusing to settle the bill.
Restaurant’s Response: Arun Adiga of Vidyarthi Bhavan explained that while they have occasionally waived bills for genuine influencers, this case involved deceit and false accusations.

Industry Reactions:

Food Blogger’s Perspective: Naveen Suresh, a seasoned food blogger, stressed that such fraudulent activities harm the credibility of legitimate bloggers and called for solutions to address the issue.
Restaurant Owners’ Concerns: Divya Raghav, owner of The Rameswaram Cafe, noted that freeloading by fake influencers is a persistent problem. Veerendra Kamath, Secretary of the Bruhat Bangalore Hotel Association, mentioned plans to organize a meeting with influencers to combat the issue.

Call to Action: The hospitality industry in Bengaluru is seeking measures to prevent such scams and safeguard both businesses and genuine food bloggers.

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