Filipino-owned Dubai taho shop says customer used AI-generated photo to claim delivery refund

Taho Avenue, a Filipino-owned taho brand in Dubai, says a delivery customer submitted an AI-generated photo of a spilled order to get a refund. The shop has asked Talabat and other platforms to protect restaurant partners from fraudulent complaints, and says Talabat has since reached out.

Taho Avenue, a Filipino-owned taho brand in Dubai, says a delivery customer submitted an AI-generated photo to claim that an order had arrived spilled. The image showed overturned cups and a takeaway bag covered in a sticky mess.

What the shop spotted

The shop pointed to several details in the photo that did not match its products or packaging:

The customer had ordered boba, but the photo appeared to show sago. The text and characters on the cup sleeves did not match the shop's actual sleeves. The cups and lids looked different from those used by the business. The shop says it secures its cups with adhesive tape and questioned how the drinks could have spilled as shown.

"We secure our cups with adhesive tape, so how can this happen? If you've ordered from us online, you'll know," the shop wrote. It also shared photos of its actual cups, lids and branded sleeves for comparison.

The cost to small food businesses

According to The Global Filipino Magazine, the shop said the order was worth AED 102 but it received only AED 12 as a food cost reimbursement, and the rider also had to contribute toward the charges.

"Delivery platforms already take 32–45 per cent of our sales in commissions and charges. Refund deductions leave us with almost nothing, while salaries, rent, food costs, and other expenses customers don't see still need to be paid," the shop said. It added: "We take genuine complaints seriously. All we ask is the same honesty in return."

Talabat reaches out

The shop appealed to Talabat and other food delivery platforms to protect restaurant partners from fraudulent complaints. It later told Gulf News that Talabat had since reached out to resolve the matter, and that it would like to focus on moving forward and serving its customers. Gulf News reported that the original Instagram post has since been deleted.

Taho Avenue opened in Dubai in August 2023 under founder Christina Vergara, according to The Global Filipino Magazine, and has grown into a delivery-driven brand with branches across Dubai and in Sharjah.

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