SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — Local restaurants are warning customers about fake Facebook posts using their names to sell phony merchandise.
Fake profiles are tagging customers and pushing links for shirts, mugs and hoodies that the businesses say they do not sell.
Restaurant owners say it is a race to warn customers before they click.
Restaurant owners at LaPaz Diner and Angelo’s Family Restaurant in South Bend said the posts are designed to look legitimate—using familiar restaurant names and images of merchandise that closely resemble the real thing.
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“That’s completely false. If you want any merch for for the La Paz Diner, you buy it here,” said Wendy Haenes, La Paz Diner Server.
The La Paz Diner is one of several local restaurants warning customers about the online scams.
Angelo’s Family Restaurant also posted an alert online, saying in a Facebook post in part “…Apparently there are some scammers online claiming that we’re selling tee shirts, mugs, and other items. WE ARE NOT, THIS IS A SCAM!! Angelo’s isn’t selling any merchandise or apparel.”
Customers are being tagged in posts from fake profiles. Those profiles claim they can reserve shirts, cups or hoodies by clicking a link.
Local restaurants are warning customers about fake Facebook posts using their names to sell phony merchandise. (WSBT photo)
But a La Paz Diner says the shirt shown in the post is not being sold by the restaurant online.
“It would not be us at all. The only way we sell our T-shirts is here in person. We don’t sell them online or anything like that. [It’s] Exactly like ours. You can get short or long sleeve,” said Haenes.
For customers, the concern is not only losing money—but that someone could mistake the fake posts for a scam by the restaurant itself.
“I was disheartened because we come here a lot and eat, and I believe that the community support keeps businesses like this going, and it upset me 0:34 … 0:58 it can kill a business like this, especially in the industry right now,” said Amanda Sellers, La Paz customer.
The Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Indiana said there are things you can look for to avoid being a target.
Local restaurants are warning customers about fake Facebook posts using their names to sell phony merchandise. (WSBT photo)
“There are misspellings, or the quality of the photo doesn’t look quite right. So if it looks suspicious, again, don’t click any links. You know, make sure you’re going to the original source to try to find that information,” said Jan Diaz, Better Business Bureau Northern Indiana President and CEO.
Both restaurants say they don’t sell merchandise online.
The La Paz Diner says it sells shirts in person only.
The Better Business Bureau recommends contacting a business directly to verify an offer and avoiding suspicious links.
Dining and Cooking