'Influencer' in New York arrested 5 times for refusing to pay for meals, offers to review them instead

A U.S.-based content creator with more than 16,000 Instagram followers allegedly scammed several of New York City’s top restaurants by refusing to pay for her meals.

Instead, she offered to review their food on her social media, even proposing sexual services as payment on one occasion.

Pei Chung, 34, is often seen wearing luxury clothing, from Prada heels to Louis Vuitton handbags.

But behind this lavish lifestyle is a serial dine-and-dasher who has been arrested five times since late October for theft of services, the New York Post reported.

Refused to pay

Chung, who is of Taiwanese origin, allegedly arrived at these restaurants — which include Michelin-starred outfits like Francie and Peter Luger — with luxury clothes, cameras, and lighting.

She then ordered hundreds of dollars’ worth of food — but later refused to pay.

On Oct. 22, Chung allegedly ordered US$188 (S$244) worth of food and tried to trade photos and a blog post for the meal, Francie co-owner John Winterman told the New York Post.

“I said, 'That would be something we would have to agree upon before, and we haven’t done that, so I need you to pay the check'," he said.

When Chung’s cards were declined, she claimed she was waiting for money from her family, he added.

Chung then allegedly returned on Nov. 7, ordered about US$83 (S$108) worth of food, and again refused to pay.

Police were called, and she was arrested on theft-of-services charges.

According to Winterman, the officers who arrived recognised Chung and said: "Oh yeah. That’s her. We know her."

Serial dine-and-dasher

Chung allegedly pulled the same scheme at other restaurants.

The day before, she entered the Lavender Lake restaurant, racked up a US$97 (S$126) bill, and left without paying.

Earlier on Nov. 11, she allegedly refused to pay her US$135 (S$175) bill at Motorino Pizza and was arrested and charged with theft of services that same day.

“She’s going into established restaurants dressed to the nines, racking up hundreds of dollars in food, defrauding them, then posting on Instagram like the restaurant hired her,” said a source close to Meadowsweet, another one of Chung’s alleged victims.

“Our team was confused — shocked. She was so self-assured and brazen about it,” they added.

Offered "anything else" instead of paying

Jeckson Leonardo, a manager at Peter Luger, told the New York Post that Chung had gone missing for 45 minutes when it was time for the bill to be paid.

Staff found her hiding in the restroom.

When she finally emerged, she allegedly tried to trade sexual favours for a meal at the restaurant.

She allegedly asked the waiter, "Is there anything else I can do for you because I don’t want to pay this check", he said.

Police were called and they arrested her, he added.

Social media paints a different story

But Chung’s social media presents a very different image from the alleged offences.

In one blog post, she praised her meal at Peter Luger, writing:

“Each slice reveals a deep rose center under a caramelized crust — a balance of char and tenderness perfected over decades. The fat melts like silk, carrying the essence of oak and iron from the grill.”

Chung did not respond to questions from the New York Post.

Top photos from lu.pychung/Instagram