Aspiring Influencer Accused of Scamming Michelin-Starred NYC Restaurants

According to a recent report, a 34-year-old Brooklyn woman named Pei Chung has been accused of repeatedly defrauding top New York City restaurants out of free food. Chung, an aspiring social media influencer with over 13,000 Instagram followers, has been boasting about her lavish lifestyle and sharing pictures of the extravagant meals she has enjoyed at various restaurants across the city.

However, the authorities allege that Chung has been visiting Michelin-star establishments, ordering expensive dishes, and then refusing to pay the bill. Instead, she has been offering to post positive reviews and content on her social media platforms in exchange for having the charges waived. Chung has been arrested five times since late October for this fraudulent scheme, targeting restaurants such as Peter Luger, Francie, and Meadowsweet in Williamsburg.

In one instance, Chung was accused of offering a waiter at the steakhouse Peter Luger sexual favors in lieu of payment. When her credit cards were declined, she allegedly claimed she was waiting for her family to send her money, but ultimately left without settling the $146 bill. Chung has also been accused of racking up a $188 bill at Francie on October 22, where she attempted to offer a blog post instead of payment, and of leaving a $97 bill unpaid at Lavender Lake earlier that month.