What people do for a free lunch

July 5, 5:48 PMScam ExaminerKarin Malchow

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In Milwaukee, Robert P. Farnam was arrested for faking a heart attack to avoid paying a $22.66 Applebee's check.  He didn't pay his cab fare going there, either, using the same technique.  A doctor recognized him at the hospital, threatening to call police if he tried the scam again.  Farnam indicated he'd already been to another hospital that day, sent from a different restaurant.  On probation for five similar offenses this year, as well multiple arrests prior years, he now faces a possible two year and nine months sentence.

Not quite the level of the infamous Wendy's finger-in-chili scam, resulting in nine year prison sentences (possibly reduced through appeal) for the fraudsters.  Of course, they were looking for a bigger payout than free food.

Angling for free food on a smaller, less bizarre scale, scammers target restaurants with the object (glass or bug) in food gambit; complaining about quality after consuming the entire meal; making the food poisoning phone call; and the Dine and Dash, easily converted to the Smoke and Dash in cities with an indoor smoking ban.

Here's a representation of Dine and Dash methods from the British television series "The Real Hustle."

Some restaurants dock wait staff for customers who leave without paying the bill.  Not to mention the practice creates higher prices for everybody and suspicion for legitimate complaints.