Taking to Instagram, PichaEats said it received the order via an official-looking letter complete with the logos of a ministry and the university on Wednesday.

The person making the order claimed that PichaEats’ services were urgently needed as the previous food vendor had backed out at the last minute.

After signing the necessary documents, the company discovered that the event did not exist and the documents were forged.

PichaEats later discovered that another catering company had fallen victim to the same scam a day earlier, resulting in substantial financial losses.

The social enterprise said its 15 chefs had already purchased ingredients to prepare meals for 500 people.

“If you need food for today (lunch, high tea, dinner) for your family, or office gathering, or would like to donate so we can distribute the meals to communities in need, please DM us,” it said in a statement on Instagram.

PichaEats also advised fellow businesses to verify messages from unfamiliar phone numbers through the police’s semakmule website.

FMT has reached out to PichaEats and the university for comment.