Restaurant uses Facebook to name and shame customers who did a runner

A West Australian restaurant’s post on Facebook about customers who it alleges left without paying their bill has gone viral.

Mojo’s restaurant in Bunbury posted a “wanted” description of the customers, which Facebook analytics show was seen by over 25,000 people in just one day.

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“Wanted young French couple”, the Facebook post says.

“Could the young French couple who skipped paying [their] bill last night come back today and rectify the situation. You have very identifiable tattoos and nose rings and work in a nearby farm.”

Mojo’s co-owner Juliana Frisina told SmartCompany the couple had a three course meal accompanied by a lot of drinks.

“They said they were going outside for a smoke and left their wallet on the table but emptied it out completely,” she says.  

“The wallet was embossed with “bad mother f**kers” from Pulp Fiction.”

But after posting on Facebook, Frisina says she has been “blown away” by the response even though the customers still have not been identified.

“We want to say thank you for your overwhelming support to our post yesterday,” Mojo’s restaurant posted on Facebook.

“We’ve been astounded at the level of community support we have received from our Facebook friends. We haven’t caught the bad guys yet who didn’t pay their bill – but that doesn’t matter – because knowing we live in such a caring and helpful community is rewarding enough.”

Frisina says the police are still investigating. 

Social media expert Dionne Lew told SmartCompany the success Mojo’s has had demonstrates how powerful social networks are to spread information and influence behavior.

“We used to have the billboard with a mugshot then Crime Stoppers on television, it’s a similar idea using networks to crowd source intelligence,” she says.

“But with well over one billion Facebook users the message goes instant and wide.”

But Lew does caution that businesses need to make sure they have the legal right to use photographs on social media.

“Don’t say anything that could turn out to be inaccurate or defamatory,” she says.