South Bend, IN – Two beloved neighborhood restaurants are sounding the alarm after scammers began posting fake merchandise offers that appear to come from the businesses themselves. The fraudulent Facebook profiles use the names, photos and even the branding of LaPaz Diner and Angelo’s Family Restaurant to promote T‑shirts, mugs, hoodies and other items that the establishments do not sell online.
Scam details and how it looks
Victims report being tagged in posts that look authentic, complete with restaurant logos and images of the apparel. The posts contain links that claim to let users “reserve” or “purchase” the items. In many cases the counterfeit shirts closely resemble the genuine designs sold in‑person at LaPaz Diner, making the deception harder to spot.
Restaurant responses
“That’s completely false. If you want any merch for the La Paz Diner, you buy it here,” said Wendy Haenes, a server at LaPaz Diner. Haenes emphasized that the diner only sells its T‑shirts on the premises and has never offered an online store. “It would not be us at all. The only way we sell our T‑shirts is here in person. We don’t sell them online or anything like that,” she added.
Angelo’s Family Restaurant issued a similar warning on its official Facebook page, stating, “WE ARE NOT, THIS IS A SCAM!! Angelo’s isn’t selling any merchandise or apparel.” The restaurant urged followers to ignore any unsolicited offers that claim to be from the eatery.
Impact on the community
Beyond the risk of financial loss, owners and patrons worry that the scams could damage the reputation of these family‑run establishments. “I was disheartened because we come here a lot and eat, and I believe that the community support keeps businesses like this going,” said Amanda Sellers, a regular at LaPaz Diner. “It upset me … it can kill a business like this, especially in the industry right now.”
Consumer‑protection advice
The Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Indiana cautions shoppers to watch for warning signs such as misspellings, low‑quality images and unfamiliar URLs. “There are misspellings, or the quality of the photo doesn’t look quite right,” said Jan Diaz, president and CEO of the BBB. “So if it looks suspicious, again, don’t click any links.”
Diaz recommends verifying any promotion by visiting the business’s official website or social‑media page directly, and contacting the restaurant before providing payment or personal information. Consumers should also be wary of any post that asks for payment through unconventional methods or requests personal data.
What to do if you encounter a fake post
If you see a suspicious offer claiming to be from LaPaz Diner or Angelo’s Family Restaurant, report the post to the platform and forward the details to the Better Business Bureau. You can also reach out to the restaurants directly to confirm whether the merchandise is legitimate.
Both LaPaz Diner and Angelo’s reaffirm that their merchandise is sold only in‑person at their locations. Residents are encouraged to support these local businesses by purchasing directly from the restaurants and spreading the word about the scam to help protect the community.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
