Smart, but not too smart..
A woman recently found herself in a situation of deception and apology after being accused of employing a fake PayNow screenshot twice at a Thai restaurant situated in Katong. The incident took place at Khao Hom by Rung Mama, located in Katong Square along East Coast Road. The restaurant owner, known only as 36-year-old Ms. Cai, recounted the sequence of events where the woman initially ordered food for takeaway amounting to S$196.20 on 6 July 2024.
Ms. Cai shared, “She showed what appeared to be a PayNow transfer record on her phone to staff, who didn’t suspect anything.” However, the deceit was revealed a week later when Ms. Cai checked her bank records and realized that the payment had never been made. Despite not filing a police report due to time constraints and lack of clear evidence, the woman returned to the same restaurant on 28 Dec and attempted a similar act.
During her second visit, the woman ordered food worth S$138.10 for dining in and again relied on a fraudulent PayNow screenshot for payment. The suspicion arose from the substantial order, leading the staff to reach out to Ms. Cai to verify the transfer. Consequently, a commotion ensued when the woman was prevented from leaving and eventually made payment via credit card under staff’s insistence.
Undeterred by the previous encounters, the woman revisited the establishment for the third time within six months on a separate occasion, this time ordering food valued at S$95.50. Ms. Cai’s vigilance heightened as she suspected the woman’s intentions, leading her to capture a photo discreetly. Upon sensing Ms. Cai’s awareness, the woman relented and settled her bill using a credit card.
In a turn of events, the woman returned on 3 Jan, repaid the outstanding S$196.20 from her initial visit, and offered a handwritten apology. The note, where she attributed her actions to “greed” and disclosed personal struggles with bulimia affecting her judgment, aimed to convey remorse and a commitment to refrain from similar deceptive practices in the future.
Expressing doubt over the sincerity of the woman’s actions, Ms. Cai highlighted the insubstantial nature of the apology delivery. Besides, the woman’s request to remove the CCTV footage posted by Ms. Cai raised suspicions further. In response to the incident, Ms. Cai decided to alter the restaurant’s PayNow name to differentiate it from the one present above the QR code, enhancing staff’s ability to discern genuine PayNow transactions.
The incident at Khao Hom by Rung Mama serves as a cautionary tale, prompting vigilance and necessitating preventive measures to combat fraudulent transactions in the evolving digital payment landscape.
