A woman in Hong Kong recently shared on the social media platform Threads how she was duped in a "dinner scam" by a man pretending to be a firefighter.
The incident took place at a Western restaurant in Yuen Long, where she ended up paying a HK$1,630 bill after the man allegedly fled without settling it.
She recounted meeting the man on a dating app where he claimed to be a firefighter. He invited her to dine at an upscale restaurant in Long Ping, where he insisted on ordering expensive dishes, including a seafood steak platter costing over HK$1,400 and half a dozen discounted oysters. Despite her initial reservations about the cost, she was reassured by the man that he would take care of the bill.
During the meal, the man appeared distressed and claimed that his credit card had been fraudulently charged, accumulating a debt of HK$200,000.
The woman perceived this as a ploy to evade paying the bill. When the bill was presented, the man asked her to pay first, promising to pay her back later. Trusting his word, she paid the entire amount.
After leaving the restaurant, the man excused himself to use the restroom in a nearby mall and never returned. The woman waited for a while before realizing she had been scammed.
She later found out that he had blocked her on the app and expressed her suspicion about why he had refused to take a photo with her during dinner.
Fortunately, she had taken a photo of the suspect and posted it online to alert others. The Hong Kong Fire Services Department confirmed that the man was not their employee and condemned the impersonation. They have referred the case to the police for further investigation.
The post has since become viral, prompting netizens to urge others to remain vigilant against similar scams involving dating apps.
