Sydney Restaurateurs Targeted by Fake Review Sabotage Campaign

The owners of a new Vietnamese cafe and wine bar in Sydney's eastern suburbs have become the target of an online harassment campaign involving fake reviews posted on Google. Cindy Mai and her partner Ed Loveday, owners of Ca Phe Mai, discovered a fake Google account using Mai's name and image to post malicious one-star reviews targeting local businesses.

"A couple of days after opening, we noticed a handful of one-star reviews that didn't sit right," Mai and Loveday told the Daily Mail. "We couldn't place these at all, and the next morning there were more." They found that some reviews explicitly stated they had never visited the venue but were responding to the owner or manager leaving negative reviews for other businesses in the area.

Upon investigating, Mai found that someone had created a fake Google account in her name, using a photograph taken from her online presence, to post reviews of nearby establishments. "That is the part that has hurt us most," the couple stated. "The thought that anyone might believe Cindy, or Ca Phe Mai, was attacking other local operators is awful." They emphasized that neither of them was responsible for the reviews and that they hold respect for neighboring businesses.

The owners reported the fraudulent account to Google, which subsequently removed it and the retaliatory reviews left for Ca Phe Mai. "As far as we are concerned, that is the end of it," they said.

However, industry sources suggest that fake reviews and malicious online impersonation are an increasing concern within Sydney's eastern suburbs, prompting other restaurants to remain vigilant. Loveday described the cyberattack as blindsiding, occurring just two weeks after they opened their venue. "You put your heart and soul into opening a business and then something like this happens," he said. "We're just trying to do the right thing, look after our customers and be good neighbours. To have someone impersonate Cindy and attack other local businesses in her name is just unbelievable."

Despite the ordeal, Mai and Loveday reported being overwhelmed by the support from neighbors, customers, and fellow business owners after they publicly shared their experience. "What we will take from these two weeks is the community," they told the Daily Mail. "The way locals and the wider hospitality industry have rallied around us has been genuinely overwhelming. People have gone out of their way to come in and tell us they are behind us."

Ca Phe Mai, a 30-seat cafe and wine bar, opened on June 15 and had quickly garnered positive attention from diners and food media. However, as the venue's profile grew, so did the online attacks. The fake reviews aimed to damage the reputation of both the new establishment and Mai herself.

The outpouring of support included messages from Josephine Perry, daughter of renowned chef Neil Perry, and fashion entrepreneur Alyce Tran. Perry commented, "This is insane! I'm so sorry to hear this, guys. This isn't the Double Bay spirit at all. Can't wait to come in, Dad said it was awesome! X." Tran added, "OMG your café is great and I'm excited to put it into regular rotation."

Loveday, who previously co-ran Sydney venues ACME and Bar Brose, and Mai, who owned Strathfield restaurant VN City for six years, expressed gratitude for the community's backing, stating it reminded them why they chose to open in Double Bay.