Better Business Bureau Warns Of New Takeout Delivery Scam

Scammers are really pushing it with this one. The Better Business Bureau says there is a takeout scam going around.

Yes, a takeout scam is becoming prominent enough that the BBB is warning consumers about it. If you think about it, this makes sense, as takeout has become incredibly popular over the course of the pandemic. There was a large chunk of time since March of 2020 that restaurants were closed or only open for takeout so this kind of became the norm!

Now, scammers are cashing in - or trying to cash in - on this rise of takeout orders nationwide. Websites like GrubHub and Uber Eats have also gained popularity, with businesses charging a fee to deliver food from your favorite restaurants.

All of these factors have scammers getting really creative. The Better Business Bureau says scammers are creating fake food ordering websites to scam consumers out of their personal information and of course, their money.

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The Better Business Bureau shared more about the scam on their website, saying that scammers are creating these websites to look exactly like the websites of popular restaurants that people order from often.

The BBB says there are fake websites that show up near the top of the search engine and at first glance, it looks like a real website from a popular brand. It may even take a few more glances to realize it is indeed fake.

Once you click on the fake website, you are asked to select your delivery order and enter your banking information to pay. You think nothing of it, as these websites are sophisticated and look legitimate. It is only after you don't receive your order that you realize the whole thing was a scam.

As with so many other scams, the people in charge of these fake websites now have a way of stealing money from you and likely other personal information, like your address and name.

Several people that have been hit with this scam reported it to the Better Business Bureau, claiming that the fake websites were under aliases like Order Hero or Order Ventures. Be on the lookout for websites with names like these or for anything that seems off on any other food delivery site.

Some people who were victims of this hack even went as far as going to the restaurant they ordered from and showing their receipt and confirmation number. Restaurant owners in these cases say they aren't associated with that website or have never heard about it.

As with so many other scams like this, the Better Business Bureau says to be careful where you order from when making an online purchase, and that includes food delivery purchases. Check the URL of the website you are ordering from. Usually, there will be a letter or number off when a website is a scam.

In the case of scams like this, always pay with a credit card so it is easier to get your money back. If you do get scammed, cancel your credit card and order a new one so scammers can't use your banking information in the future.

As always, confirm with the place you are ordering from just to avoid having to deal with a scam like this. It may see like a lot of work at the time but could save you from a disaster in the future.

This is just one of so many COVID-19 scams that have popped up over the past year and a half. While this isn't directly related to the pandemic, it is not a coincidence that takeout has become a way of life since 2020 and now scammers are hopping on the trend.

Even local businesses have been hit with intense scams throughout the pandemic. Visit Duluth is a good example of this, as someone created a fake Facebook page for the organization and was offering fake prizes to fans with a questionable link to click.