Alex Kang, a Fairfax-based restaurant owner, frequently encounters dine-and-dash incidents at his establishment, Okonomi Asian Grill. Interestingly, this is carried out by customers abusing DoorDash’s food delivery service, ordering meals and then canceling their orders after they leave the establishment.
This scheme, believed to be part of a social media trend called the “Dash and Dine” challenge, is causing financial losses for independent restaurant owners like Alex Kang. To curb this malicious behavior, Kang is considering implementing stricter regulations and is calling on DoorDash to respond to the problem.
By working with local authorities and increasing awareness on social media, Kang is trying to protect his restaurant from this unexpected crisis of unpaid food and services caused by dishonest customers and exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic.
In response to these fraudulent schemes, Kang has come up with a creative proposal. He is offering a $150 reward for information leading to the identification of the repeat offender. He assures the confidentiality of all informants and hopes to increase community involvement in crime prevention through this method.
Despite his efforts, the perpetrator remains unidentified, leaving Kang, local law enforcement and the community on tenterhooks. Some clues have surfaced pointing to possible connections to the perpetrator’s social media accounts.
Combating Dash and Dine Scams in Fairfax
Nevertheless, due to his cautious and methodical approach, tangible evidence remains out of reach for the time being.
In addition to Kang’s lawsuits, the perpetrator frequently uses various aliases and employs tactics aimed at damaging Okonomi Asian Grill’s reputation. These strategies include false complaints and claims that the establishment is closed, resulting in temporary service disruptions. Nevertheless, Kang remains persistent and uses robust business strategies to counteract the scammer’s evil intentions.
The ongoing scam reportedly cost Kang around $150 in total. In each incident, the thief ordered two or three meals and canceled them through the app before staff had a chance to confirm pickup.
Kang is frustrated by DoorDash’s passive response. Despite spending two hours on a Monday night requesting important information about the perpetrator’s account, Kang was met with indifference. DoorDash has neither reimbursed the costs incurred nor provided any significant details about the cause of the problem.
