What is to be gained from a scam like this?

[bookworm1982]

Own a cafe in London which sells a particular type of food. Shop got a call this morning from the PR of an extremely high profile celebrity who wants to visit us today to try this particular type food while she’s in London. LOADS of messages back and forth from this PR woman, and phone calls, and voice notes. She sounds articulate and well spoken. Said the celebrity would be in with a film crew etc. However, husband thinks it’s a scam, and the further it gets past the time the celebrity was meant to arrive, the more I think it could be too. However, what I want to know is what could this person have possibly got out of this? They didn’t ask for money, or any personal details, just lots of messages back and forth about what will happen when they arrive. Is this person just mad?

Very possibly! Is there someone who might be winding you up?

"prank" rather than scam

Fantasist probably. It gives them something at the time.

There are some strange people in the world.

Nothing to be gained unless you have turned people away, spent a mint on decor, ousted all over social media etc. just let it play out.

Maybe the celeb changed their mind about what they fancied to eat so the poor PA is now scrambling about messaging the next cafe and forgot to stand you down.

Or maybe it is a fantasist/time waster.

You will have to tell us who the celeb is so we can decide which is more likely!

Odd!

I agree elaborate prank (someone who dislikes you / cafe?) or a fantasist is possible.

My understanding (from v limited media stuff I've done) is that it's very common for a visit/story/guest on an schedule to get pushed back or bumped if eg they are running late, VIP changes mind, there's suddenly a conflict.

Celeb may turn up 2 hours after scheduled or you might an an apologetic call tomorrow morning. Or you're one of three places they lined up depending on how the rest of the day played out. Or it's a scam! Keep us updated!

Could the scam be that "publicist" will call later asking for a big take away order?

I think rather than scam that they wanted promo for the ‘gram’ for whatever food you sell but they’ve found something better, and are too rude to actually cancel

Could be a fantasist. Could be genuine and something has happened to change plans and standing you down is low on the priority list. Could be a scam - maybe a terrible lookalike after a day out and some free pie & mash or whatever you sell! 😂 That would be a bit funny, you'll have to keep us posted!

If they DO turn up make sure you get something out of it too. Photos of said celeb for your own social media, at the very least.

Also, tell us who it is…

If they turn up late send them to the back of the queue.

Have you checked that this is the real PR people?

Who is the "celebrity"?

What does your husband think the scam is?

I imagine so called celebs so this all the time and then plans change

Id ignore it and carry on as normal

Definitely a scam as the celebrity is on tour right now in another country!! 🤣🤣

but all the messages back and forth with this woman… so strange. And I believed it because we’ve had this sort of fuss over celebrities visiting before, in fact before they chose that fish and chip shop to do Harry Styles aftershave commercial they looked into our place first. So that’s why I believed it.

I don’t see why someone would do it out of spite, as there’s surely more spiteful things that would hurt us! It’s not like we paid them money or shut our shop, or cooked anything up especially.

Weird

Could it be someone after a freebie?

That's my thought. Oh, Taylor Swift / Reese Witherspoon / Barack Obama just has such a packed schedule that they can't come any more, they are soooooo disappointed, if you could just pack up a few goodies for them that would be awesome, we'll send Dodgy Dave around to pick up up and we guarantee that you will be all over Taylor's socials.

Nope, nothing like that, just didn’t show up and the woman has blocked me now 🤷🏻‍♀️