Spate of fake orders at Master's Grill kebab house, Taunton

Ismal Dinz claims the culprit has been making around a dozen home delivery requests online every Friday and every Saturday for the last six or seven weeks.

The orders contain phone numbers and addresses in and around Taunton that are later discovered not to tally.

Mr Dinz, who opened Master's Grill, in East Reach, last July, said: "I've got no idea who's doing this, but they always time it for our busiest time of the week.

"We've received so many of these fake orders. We send them out, but when the driver turns up at the door, either there's no-one there or the people have no idea what it's about.

"The driver then has to come back with the order and all the food is wasted.

"They say they are cash customers and don't pay online, so there's no way of knowing if they're genuine or not when they make the order."

Mr Dinz said the orders are for expensive items from the menu and come to an average of £40 or £50.

He added: "We've started calling cash customers back to check the orders are genuine, but that doesn't look very professional.

"It's affecting our genuine customers too because it causes delays when we're really busy.

"It takes up time for our staff and drivers and it's cost the business thousands of pounds."

The orders have been made for addresses in Taunton such as Lyngford Square and Cheddon Road, as well as villages including Norton Fitzwarren and Trull.

"Sometimes we can see that the phone numbers don't correspond to the address, but that's not always possible to know," said Mr Dinz.

"It's all very frustrating. It's not like a kid playing a prank on a neighbour - it's persistent and it's getting more and more.

"If whoever's doing it has got a problem with me, then they should come and talk to me.

"I'd like to apologise to my genuine customers who are also victims because of delays they experience.

"I've called the police and will be going in to the station to officially report it."