Catering Scams and AI Fraud: How A Fresh Connection and Florida Chefs Workshop Keep Clients and Food Entrepreneurs Safe
- Bill O'Brien
- Aug 26
- 8 min read
👉 Not every catering inquiry is really about food. Sometimes, it’s about fraud.
Over the past year, we’ve noticed something unusual at A Fresh Connection Catering (and at our sister company, Florida Chefs Workshop): while real clients continue to reach out for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations, we’re also receiving a growing number of scam requests. And with the rise of AI-generated messages, these scams are looking more polished — and trickier — than ever before.
We take these attempts seriously because protecting our event clients in St. Pete & Tampa and our 65+ food entrepreneurs at Florida Chefs Workshop means keeping scams off the menu. In this post, we’ll share:
🚨 The most common catering scams we’ve seen (and how AI is making them more convincing).
👀 Red flags that help us separate genuine clients from fraudsters.
🛡️ How we protect both catering clients and small food businesses from falling victim.
💡 Tips for other catering companies and our customers to stay safe in the age of AI scams.
Because whether you’re hosting a wedding, running a food truck, or just trying to grow your business, awareness is the first ingredient in staying secure.
Why Scam Requests Are Growing in the Catering Industry
The catering world used to worry mostly about burnt hors d’oeuvres or last-minute guest counts. Today? Add AI-driven scam requests to the list.
The reality is simple: the more visible your business is online, the more likely scammers will test the waters. Catering companies make easy targets because we handle large transactions, accept deposits, and often work under time-sensitive conditions.
What’s changed in the last couple of years is the role of artificial intelligence.
✍️ Before AI: Scam emails were riddled with typos, weird grammar, and obvious red flags.
🤖 Now with AI: Scammers use chatbots to write messages that look professional, polite, and completely legitimate. In fact, a recent survey showed that 1 in 4 small businesses were targeted by AI-powered scams last year — and 90% of owners said they’re getting harder to detect.
At A Fresh Connection Catering and Florida Chefs Workshop, we see this first-hand. While we love a good buffet, we don’t love seeing scammers pile on with fake wedding requests, fraudulent payments, or “too good to be true” offers. The good news? By recognizing how these scams are evolving, we can protect both our clients in St. Pete & Tampa and the 65+ food entrepreneurs who trust our commissary kitchen.
The Most Common Scam Requests We See
Scammers may change their disguises, but their tricks usually fall into a few familiar categories. At A Fresh Connection Catering and Florida Chefs Workshop, we’ve seen them all — and they’re getting bolder. Here are the usual suspects:
💸 Overpayment Scams Someone reaches out with a “dream order” — big guest count, generous budget, maybe even a multiple-day event. They’re eager to pay upfront, sometimes even offering extra money. The catch? They’ll ask us to forward a portion of that payment to another “vendor.” The payment is fake, and if we send money out, we’re left holding the bag.
📱 Communication Barrier Scams A scammer claims to be hearing impaired or unable to talk on the phone. They insist on communicating only by email or text. This helps them avoid real-time questions and keeps us from verifying details.
🕊️ Fake Charities or Emergencies “We’re feeding volunteers.” “It’s for a funeral tomorrow.” These messages pull at the heartstrings and often come with urgency. Then comes the twist — a request for extra funds to be sent elsewhere.
📧 Phishing Emails Some don’t pretend to be clients at all. Instead, they impersonate booking platforms, review sites, or even banks, trying to trick us into handing over login credentials or financial info.
🚩 Spammy SEO or Marketing Offers These aren’t always outright fraud, but they’re almost always low-value distractions. “We can get you to #1 on Google overnight!” Spoiler alert: if someone emails you that promise out of the blue, it’s not legit.
⚠️ What’s new? AI makes all of these scams look sharper. The sloppy grammar and weird wording that once gave scammers away are fading. Now we see inquiries that look polished and professional — which is why knowing the red flags (next section 👇) is more important than ever.
Red Flags to Watch Out For 🚩
Even with AI polishing up the scams, there are still clues that help us separate the real clients from the pretenders. At A Fresh Connection Catering and Florida Chefs Workshop, these are the signals that make us stop and look twice:
Generic Details Real clients usually mention specifics: a date, a venue, a type of menu. Scam inquiries? They’re vague — “your catering services” with no local tie-in.
Too Much Urgency “We need this tomorrow!” or “Please confirm now!” is a classic pressure tactic. Real events take planning. Scammers rely on panic.
Weird Payment Requests Anyone asking us to handle money for a third party, or to refund part of an overpayment, gets an automatic 🚫. A caterer isn’t a bank.
Suspicious Email Signs An inquiry sent from [email protected] claiming to be a corporate planner? Nope. Real businesses usually have professional emails and signatures.
Avoidance of Normal Communication When we suggest a phone call or meeting and get excuses (“hearing impaired,” “traveling abroad”), that’s a big warning light. Clients in St. Pete & Tampa usually don’t mind a quick chat.
Requests Beyond Catering Anytime the message veers into “Can you also handle payments for our limo service?” or “Can you share your banking info so we can wire funds,” it’s game over.
👉 Bottom line: If something feels off, it usually is. Trust your gut, pause, and verify. It’s saved us more than once — and it can save other catering companies and food entrepreneurs too.
How A Fresh Connection Protects Clients 🛡️
At A Fresh Connection Catering, protecting our clients is just as important as plating beautiful food. When a suspicious request lands in our inbox, here’s how we make sure it doesn’t spoil anyone’s event:
Pause Before Responding We never rush into an inquiry that feels “off.” Instead, we ask clarifying questions — scammers usually trip themselves up fast.
Verify the Details If someone claims to represent a company or event, we don’t just take their word for it. We double-check through official websites, phone numbers, or even ask for an in-person meeting when local.
Use Technology to Our Advantage Ironically, we use AI (yes, even ChatGPT 🤓) to analyze suspicious messages. If it looks like a classic overpayment scam or phishing ploy, we know to step back.
Stick to Secure Payment Practices Deposits must clear, contracts must be signed, and we only accept payments through trusted channels. No exceptions. No “side favors.”
Educate Our Team Everyone on our staff knows the red flags. That means no one accidentally gets lured in while juggling menus, timelines, and guest lists.
💡 The result? Our clients in St. Pete & Tampa can feel confident knowing that their catering partner isn’t just cooking with care — we’re also guarding against fraud with the same level of attention.
Safeguarding 65+ Businesses at Florida Chefs Workshop 👩🍳🚚
Fraud doesn’t just target event catering. At Florida Chefs Workshop, our 65+ food entrepreneurs — from food trucks and bakers to meal prep pros — face the same risks. A scam email promising a “business loan,” a fake order for a truckload of product, or a sketchy marketing offer can trip up even the most seasoned chef.
That’s why we apply the same scam-spotting playbook we use at A Fresh Connection Catering:
🔍 Verification first — If an “opportunity” sounds too good to be true, we check it twice.
💳 No strange payments — We remind our clients that scammers often want you to act as a middleman for money. That’s always a red flag.
📚 Education & community — By sharing examples of recent scam attempts, our FCW community learns together. When one food truck operator spots a phishing ploy, everyone benefits.
For small businesses just starting out, avoiding a scam can mean the difference between thriving and losing hard-earned revenue. That’s why we treat protection as part of the value of being in our kitchen family.
👉 In short: at Florida Chefs Workshop, we don’t just rent kitchens — we help build a safer, smarter food business ecosystem across St. Pete, Tampa, and all of Pinellas County.
Suggestions for Our Clients at A Fresh Connection and Florida Chefs Workshop 💡
Scams aren’t just a nuisance — they can impact real celebrations and real businesses. That’s why we share these tips directly with our clients, whether you’re planning a wedding dinner with A Fresh Connection Catering or growing your food business at Florida Chefs Workshop.
🎉 For Our Catering Clients
We want you to feel safe and confident when planning your event:
Book through trusted channels — Always use our official website, phone number, or email. If you ever get a message that doesn’t look quite right, call us at 727-308-1256.
Secure payments only — We’ll never ask you to pay a third party on our behalf. All deposits and balances go directly through A Fresh Connection’s invoicing system.
Ask us anything — If you’re unsure about a message, we’ll gladly confirm if it’s from us. Better to double-check than worry.
Take your time — We’ll never pressure you to pay instantly. A scammer might — that’s a big red flag.
👩🍳 For Our Florida Chefs Workshop Clients
As part of our commissary kitchen family, your success is our success. Here’s how you can keep your food business protected:
Don’t fall for “too good to be true” offers — From fake bulk orders to miracle marketing services, scammers prey on enthusiasm. Always verify before committing.
Protect your payments — Like us, stick to secure, traceable methods. Avoid wiring money or accepting odd overpayment arrangements.
Lean on the community — One of the biggest advantages of FCW is strength in numbers. If you get a suspicious inquiry, share it — chances are others have seen it too.
Stay alert with vendors — Food trucks and product makers often get hit with fake “supply” or “equipment” scams. When in doubt, check with us or other members before acting.
👉 Whether you’re hosting a wedding in Tampa Bay or running a food truck in Pinellas, the same rule applies: slow down, verify, and trust your instincts. We’ll always have your back.
Conclusion: Caution + Community 🤝
Scammers may be getting smarter with the help of AI, but so are we. At A Fresh Connection Catering and Florida Chefs Workshop, protecting our clients isn’t just about serving great food — it’s about creating a safe, trusted environment where celebrations and businesses can thrive.
By spotting red flags early, sticking to secure practices, and sharing what we learn with our community, we’ve been able to keep scams off the table for both our catering clients across St. Pete & Tampa and the 65+ food entrepreneurs who call Florida Chefs Workshop home.
The good news? You don’t have to fight this battle alone. Whether you’re planning your wedding, booking a corporate event, or building your food truck dream, remember:
🚫 If it feels too good to be true, it probably is.
🕵️ Slow down, verify, and trust your instincts.
📞 And when in doubt, call us directly — 727-308-1256.
Because at the end of the day, your trust is our most important ingredient. We’ll keep the scammers out of the kitchen so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying your event or growing your business.
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