Award-winning South African broadcaster and 947 breakfast host Anele Mdoda-Mgudlwa has issued an urgent public warning after her husband, Bonelela “Buzza” James Mgudlwa, nearly fell victim to a highly sophisticated digital restaurant scam in Johannesburg.
While hosting Anele and the Club on 947, the media personality broke down exactly how cyber-scammers successfully hijacked the Google Maps business listing of a trendy new Joburg dining spot to siphon deposit money directly from unsuspecting patrons.
How the Scam Works: The Phone Call That Raised Red Flags
Anele, her husband Buzza, and a group of friends had changed their weekend dining plans last minute to attend an exclusive, private menu-tasting experience at the newly opened VLAMÒ Restaurant.
While driving to the venue, Buzza pulled up the restaurant’s official Google listing to book a table for five. However, a specific phrase instantly triggered Anele’s sharp intuition:
“You know when you’re not paying attention to somebody’s conversation but then he says something which then draws my ear,” Anele recalled. “Buzza’s like, ‘So where do I pay the deposit?’”
Knowing that menu-tastings rarely require upfront food deposits, Anele immediately halted the transaction.
Hacking the Algorithm: The Owner Confirms the Nightmare
Upon arriving at VLAMÒ, the restaurant’s owner confirmed Anele’s worst fears. Cyber-criminals had managed to maliciously hack into the restaurant’s verified Google Business Profile.
- The Trap: The scammers left the physical address completely untouched so victims would still navigate to the correct location, but they swapped out the restaurant’s legitimate telephone number with a fraudulent burner line.
- The Execution: When hopeful foodies called to secure a table, the scammers answered professionally, acted as front-of-house hosts, and demanded immediate deposit transfers to “confirm” the booking.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) to vent her frustration and warn her massive following, Anele wrote:
“I am annoyed but REALLY impressed. VLAMÒ is a new restaurant in Johannesburg. Someone hacked into their Google page and changed the number so that it goes to them. They are now taking bookings and taking deposit for bookings!!!! Wow. Claps once. Now we have to call Google CEOs.”
Official Statement: How to Safeguard Your Wallet
VLAMÒ has since launched an aggressive counter-campaign on Instagram to reclaim their digital footprint, releasing a strict directive to all future patrons:
“We do not take payment, deposit, or card details over the phone or via direct message to secure a table. If you’ve been asked for payment to ‘confirm’ a booking, it did not come from us. Please report it and contact us directly to verify.”
The Golden Rule: Always cross-reference a venue’s phone number on their verified, official website or Instagram bio link before making an inquiry. If a restaurant suddenly demands an immediate electronic transfer (EFT) or card payment over the phone for a standard reservation, hang up immediately.
