DINERS have been warned to beware when handing over their credit cards to pay in busy restaurants - they might be giving them to criminals posing as restaurant captains.
Two people lost tens of thousands of dollars in the last two weeks when they handed over their credit cards – and the imposter ran off for a shopping spree.
Two people lost tens of thousands of dollars in the last two weeks when they handed over their credit cards – and the imposter ran off for a shopping spree.
At a Maxim’s restaurant in Tseung Kwan O a woman on March 21 gave a credit card to pay her bill, but the “captain” did not return. By the time she reported the loss, her card had been used to fund a shopping spree worth about HK$100,000 in the same mall.
A similar incident in Telford Plaza in Kowloon Bay – also at a Maxim’s restaurant – on March 13 saw a customer lose about HK$20,000.
Both incidents are being investigated by police.
A spokesman for Maxim’s said staff have been told to watch out for suspicious people wearing restaurant uniforms and urged customers not to hand over cards or cash until they see the printed bills.
Hong Kong Catering Industry Association vice president Thomas Woo Chu warned people to be on guard when settling a bill for themselves and friends.
Customers may not even try to check the bill or note who has taken their credit cards, he said. “They simply fight to be the one to pay the money or give their credit cards to the restaurant staff. Sometimes the situation can be so chaortic.”
Woo also warned that people were more likely to be targets for fraudsters during busy times.
Similar crimes in the past have included criminals going to wedding parties and pretending to be members of the family of a bride or bridegroom to con guests out of cash and valuables.
(Adapted from an article in The Standard
on March 25, 2010)
