Singapore’s F&B industry has always been resilient, but operators are facing a worrying trend: fake bulk orders. These fraudulent orders are often placed via phone calls, messaging apps, or even online forms — where someone commits to a large catering or group order but never pays or collects the food.
While they may appear to be isolated incidents, the reality is that fake bulk orders create serious operational, financial, and reputational damage for business owners.
The Real Impact on F&B Operators
1. Food & Resource Wastage
Large orders often require businesses to buy extra ingredients, dedicate prep time, and use significant packaging resources. When these orders turn out to be fake, all of that effort ends up in the bin. Unlike unsold food from regular operations, bulk order wastage is concentrated and can reach hundreds of dollars in value at once.
2. Lost Sales Opportunities
Kitchens have finite capacity. When chefs prioritize bulk orders, it often means slowing down service for regular dine-in or takeaway customers. In the worst cases, genuine orders are rejected or delayed because the team is occupied — only for the bulk order to be fake. This creates double losses: wasted food and missed real revenue.
3. Operational Stress
Managing bulk orders requires careful coordination — from inventory planning to scheduling staff. A fake order doesn’t just waste food; it disrupts the workflow, stresses employees, and affects service quality for actual paying customers.
4. Financial Strain
Margins in F&B are notoriously thin. One large fake order could wipe out an entire day’s profit or even push a small café or restaurant into the red for the week. For hawkers or single-outlet businesses, the financial hit is especially painful.
5. Damage to Reputation
When operations are disrupted, paying customers often suffer the consequences: slower service, quality drops, or even sold-out menu items. Negative reviews and word-of-mouth from disappointed customers can have longer-lasting effects than the fake order itself.
Why It’s Happening More
The rise of instant communication platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram makes it easy for pranksters or scammers to place fake orders. Without a payment gatekeeper, businesses have no way to differentiate serious customers from fake ones until it’s too late.
How F&B Businesses Can Respond
Secure Pre-Payment
Implement a deposit policy for all large orders. Even requiring 30–50% upfront can deter pranksters and secure commitment.
Adopt Digital Ordering Systems
An online ordering platform with integrated payments ensures that orders are only confirmed once payment is made. This reduces fraud and saves admin time chasing customers for deposits.
Staff Training
Train staff to recognize red flags: suspiciously large orders from new numbers, vague details about collection, or refusal to provide deposits. Simple questioning can help filter out fraudulent requests.
How MEGAPOS Protects You
With MEGAPOS Online Ordering, merchants no longer need to worry about fake orders. Customers are required to pay upfront online before the order is confirmed. This ensures:
- Guaranteed payment before food preparation
- Seamless integration with POS and kitchen workflows
- Reduced fraud risk and wasted resources
- Better order tracking for accountability
By adopting secure payment-first ordering, F&B businesses can protect their margins, improve staff morale, and focus on serving real customers.
Contact us to learn how MEGAPOS Online Ordering can safeguard your business by clicking here.









