Anele Mgudlwa Warns People About Restaurant Booking Scam

South African radio and TV host Anele Mgudlwa is warning people to be extra careful when making restaurant bookings after she nearly became a victim of a scam.

While on her current 947 radio show, Anele and the Club, Anele shared a story about an experience she recently had with her husband, Bonelela “Buzza” James Mgudlwa, and a group of friends.

The group had originally planned to visit a new seafood restaurant called Tightline at Sandton Gate. However, they changed their minds at the last minute and decided to go to VLAMO Restaurant instead because the owner was hosting a menu tasting to test which dishes should be included on the menu.

On their way to the restaurant, Buzza searched for VLAMO’s phone number on Google so he could book a table for five people. During the call, something caught Anele’s attention.

She recalled, “You know when you’re not paying attention to somebody’s conversation but then he says something which then draws my ear. Buzza’s like, ‘So where do I pay the deposit?’”

Anele explained that while some restaurants do ask for deposits to secure a booking, this situation did not seem right.

She said it felt strange because the restaurant was hosting a menu tasting. “When you’re testing you normally just pay for drinks not for food because then they’re using you a ginny pigs to rate the food.”

When they arrived at VLAMO, they spent some time there before the restaurant owner came to speak to them. The owner showed them the restaurant’s Google listing and explained that while the address on Google was correct, the phone number had been changed by scammers.

According to Anele, the owner said the restaurant’s Google profile had been hacked, allowing scammers to replace the real phone number with their own. This meant that when customers called to make reservations, they unknowingly spoke to scammers who asked them to pay booking deposits.

After the incident, Anele shared her frustration on X.

She 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.”

VLAMO has also warned customers about the scam on its Instagram page and shared its correct booking details.

The restaurant said, “We’ve become aware of accounts and numbers falsely claiming to take reservations on VLAMO’s behalf. To be clear: the only number for bookings is 010 634 4065. 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 incident serves as an important reminder for people to always double-check a restaurant’s official contact details before making a booking or paying any deposit. If something feels unusual, it is best to contact the restaurant through its verified social media pages or official website before sending any money.