Food Package SCAM : A Talk of the Town

When I opened Facebook on Monday night, I saw several postings of my friends about their recommended food package providers. I was curious and found out that there is a Food Package provider here in our city that scammed more than 30 individuals, some those who availed the food packages and the others are the suppliers. I feel sad for them.

I actually saw their food package postings in the marketplace and some groups. Here is the screenshot I grabbed from Facebook.

As you can see, the advertisement offer is very enticing because it is very affordable. It is cheaper compared to those seasoned suppliers here in town. They also posted some actual packages that they delivered to people here in our place. Well, a good strategy to entice more people to avail is through testimonies and feedbacks. The first months was good, there were people who have been delivered with the food packages they availed.

Then, the news now. It's all over the town, in social media. Live videos of people who are pleading help from Raffy Tulfo, seeking for justice of what the Food Caterer did to them. The Food Caterer rented a space just near our school, but now it's closed and there are just a few things remaining in there. Everyday there are people who are going in their rented space, hoping to see them or see at least one of them. What the Food Caterer did to them? They have a "pay first policy". One will pay first before their order will be delivered. I suppose that the money they got from the customers were also spent to buy the goods and supplies for the food packages. There were already many people who paid for their food packages and Food caterers suddenly disappeared. They removed all their posters, closed the rented space and nobody knows where they are. It is really their intention to go away, to hide. They did not scammed the customers only but also the suppliers, there are many payables for the suppliers of chicken, lechon belly, whole lechon.

I feed sad for the customers and suppliers. The supposedly happy celebrations for birthdays, thanksgiving, anniversaries were ruined because no food packages were delivered or will be delivered. Supposing that you are the one who availed the food package, you did not prepare anything for the day because you expected someone to do it for you, your visitors come in already and Boom!, when it's eating time, no food packages is delivered. What would you feel? What would you do? The hard earned money that you saved for a long time for that celebration is now gone, because of these scammers.

Last week, the customers said that the excuse was the caterer's staff was tested positive with Covid, that's why they were not able to deliver. But now, they were all gone. Their page in Facebook was even deactivated. Some people said that the owner are not even using their real names. The first transactions were just baits for more people to avail. The only one left for the customers are their temporary receipts and the hope that their money will be returned. The suppliers, who just borrowed money for their capital just to provide the needs for the catering, are left with debts and no income.

Closing thoughts

Scammers are everywhere, and we should always be vigilant. They are just crafting strategies and "modus" to deceive people. In terms of food packages, we should only avail to those who are already trusted caterers. Don't be fooled by the enticing advertisements. Usually seasoned caterers here in our place have this "Pay as we deliver" scheme or at least pay a down payment and pay in full when the food is delivered already. Or better, prepare in our own. If we have time and manpower to do the preparations, it is still one of the best "tipid" options.

Lead Image from Freepik edited

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