Someone is booking restaurants in my name and with my phone number. Is there anything I can do about it?

[You4coffee]

For about the last six weeks, someone has been making large bookings (8-10 people) at restaurants in my name with my phone number and when I don't turn up the restaurant rings me. They have my full name and phone number. And are obviously put out that they've lost a booking.

They seem to be genuine restaurants, all over London. I live in London but don't particularly know any of the areas or individual restaurants.

I wasn't particularly concerned but it seems to be increasing. It was one a week for a while but this week I've had at least one phone call a day.

I can't think of anyone who'd have a vendetta against me but it does feel personal! And I feel bad for these restaurants that are mostly small local businesses rather than large chains.

Had anyone experienced anything like this? Is there anything I can do? There doesn't seem much point in changing my phone number or reporting to anyone?

How weird. This would freak me out. It sounds like someone with a grudge or wanting to push you off at the very least.

I have nothing useful to add, but I am intrigued as to what 'Louie scribe' could be auto-correct for?

Me too! "Little scrote"?

@AromanticSpices intrigued by this. I was trying to sell a flat recently. Why do you ask?

Definitely don't want to change my number.

I'd thought it was an ill advised prank tbh but a few of you have suggested something more sinister. I will take a look at logging online.

Did you refuse to sell to someone? Someone viewed it but you didn’t like them?

If it's someone who knows her - which seems likely- they'll have the new number and use that instead
It will only help if she doesn't give anyone her new number

@You4coffee
Wonder if a private investigator could track them down?

Wow <Settles in to watch Columbo spin out the motive>

I don’t understand - surely restaurants can see the phoners number isn’t the booking number.
tell the restaurants to send a confirmation txt message. am surprised they don’t do a check of some sort

Maybe they are booking online, through an online form, then they wouldn't be ringing from a different phone just typing the number in

🤣🤣

It’s harassment. I’d be concerned enough to report it to the police.

If they’re using an online booking form, I wonder what e-Mail they’re putting in?

Just because it's a situation where someone might know your name and number and might have a grudge if you gazumped/gazundered/ didn't promise to leave the curtains/ proceed in the way they would have liked... unlikely though if you didn't get far in the process?!

I'd change my number and also report to the police this is just randomly odd behaviour

They could put any email in, they could have an email with OPs name in it so it looked real

Anyway it could be a rival restaurant who has randomly found your name and number? Although would need to have a lot of rivals...
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/uk-world-news/restaurant-tricked-huge-fake-booking-8553974

Most online booking platforms send you a text and email when you book then reminder day before. Weird you don't get them? (The text, obviously the email could be any old rubbish)

Are you sleeping with someone's hubby? Said something to someone at work that could of been taken the wrong way? This is definitely a personal attack you've really gotten under some woman's skin. Quite an immature thing to do and to be continuing to do it suggests they are seeing you often enough to *keep them mad and so continue being petty.

I would think of anyone you know who might have an axe to grind with you.

Did you complain for a service eg hair recently? I’m not saying people do this but my ex hairdresser was really unpleasant and rude to me a few years ago, so much so that I stopped using her and I wrote a google review detailing what had happened and she accused me of writing a fake review and reported me to Google who sided with her. She couldn’t say I was never a client because she knew I had been for at least 15 years. I heard from people who knew her that she bad mouthed me after that but then she did that with lots of people including perfectly nice ex colleagues and ex employees of hers.

Thing is, it's mildly inconvenient for you but could be quite damaging for small restaurants. Obviously not your fault but I wonder who the target(s) are?

Police will do nothing

Are you sure it’s the actual restaurants that are ringing you and not just someone pretending to be them?

I think I'd hire a PI to look at where these have come from.
I'd be worried that it could escalate.
Sorry this is happening to you.