Beware of Restaurant Scams
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1. A restaurant operator recieves a dry cleaning bill (typically $10-$25) enclosed with a letter from a supposed customer claiming that when he or she dined at your establishment, a waiter spilled something on him or her, causing a stain on his or her clothes.
Solution- Verify damage claims and don't pay bills you can't verify. Train your staff to record in detail all incidents that require payment.
2. A restaurant operator recieves a C.O.D. shipment, one of many they recieve everyday, and not thinking about what is in the box or why someone ordered what the box supposedly contained, they sign and pay for what is in the box. He or she later opens the package and finds it contains supplies that no one ordered, if anything at all.
Solution- Maintain a detailed order log of all merchandise and never accept anything that is not in the order log.
3. A hustler calls your restaurant selling products that often need replacing, such as office and maintenance supplies- but at inflated prices. They usually prey on employees who aren't official purchasing agents and therefore do not know from whom and at what price your establishment purchases their supplies.
Solution- Tell your employees to never order inventory if it is not their job to do so. Tell them to ask the solicitor to hold while they get the purchasing agent on duty. Also never purchase from a new supplier without checking the company's reputation. Inform all employees about purchasing, recieving, invoicing,and payment systems.
If you suspect a scam, notify the local police, and Better Business Bureau.
source: The National Restaurant Association
