Food Digging: The Latest Restaurant Scam Ruining Dating

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It can be so hard to trust people, even under the best of circumstances. Somehow, especially for anyone disillusioned by the idea of love or the complicated nature of our modern dating scene, trusting people with your heart is exponentially more difficult.

Between catfishing, scammers, and just the usual mismatches of personalities and preferences, there is so much to watch out for when attempting to date. Unfortunately, there is yet another new red flag to watch out for. Known as “food digging” this latest trickery targets your wallet and your heart. Here’s how it works. 

What Exactly is “Food Digging?”

An attempt at a playful riff on “gold digging,” “food digging” swaps the goal of material wealth for a good meal or expensive restaurant experience.

The Setup:

The Date:

  • The individuals match with singles and flirt as usual until it comes time to suggest a date, at which point they express a desire to meet at a specific venue for a meal. 

The Payoff:

  • There appears to be two strategies to pulling off this scam:
  • One—The targeted date arrives at the restaurant solo and eventually assumes they have been stood up. At this point the individual just ends up ordering their own food and drinks since they’re already there and seated.
  • Two—The instigator drags out the interaction, ordering extravagant options off the menu and then bails before the bill, leaving the victim to pay for the expenses. In this instance the date drags out the interaction enough to seem legitimate all while boosting the restaurant’s profits. 

Unfortunately for us all, food digging isn’t just financially harmful but in this time of tenuous relationship building opportunities, it truly undermines the trust that is essential for establishing genuine connections between individuals. People who are already taking a risk with their heart by participating in the online dating scene already face legitimate concerns about potential deception.

Any new scam, including food digging, justifiably amplifies those fears, making it infinitely harder to distinguish genuine intentions. Not to mention, being saddled with a steep restaurant bill can cause significant financial strain. Add in the fact that it was incurred under false pretences is frustrating and can feel like a breach of personal boundaries.  

And let’s not let the participating restaurants off the hook! They’re equal partners and should be held accountable. It’s not a clever marketing ploy, it’s cruel. Plus, if they’re caught the short-term financial gain will not outweigh the long-term damage to their reputations.  

How to Spot a Potential “Food Digger”

While embarking into the wide world of online dating, there are ways to stay aware and protect yourself against this scam. Adopt a healthy dose of skepticism and be on alert for these warning signs:  

  • If someone is excessively enthusiastic about a specific restaurant
  • Setting extravagant expectations for an initial meeting place—something too pricey or overly romantic
  • Being inflexible to alternative suggestions 

Stay safe out there by keeping things casual. Suggest a coffee date for a first meeting. If you do go for dinner, split the check. If it’s a new-to-you restaurant, do a quick search for reviews so you know what to expect. Remember that dating can still be fun if you trust your gut and take your time. 

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Written by Krista

Based on beautiful Cape Breton Island, Krista Montelpare is a storyteller and content writer with a passion for community-building and communication clarity. See more at GatherAndEcho.com or follow her on Instagram @LoveLetterLifestyle where she writes love letters to her favourite foods, destinations, and thrift store finds.

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