We Impersonated a Restaurant on Glovo and Chowdeck; the Platforms Never Noticed

Why It Matters

Without robust vendor verification, food‑delivery apps risk consumer harm and brand damage, highlighting a regulatory gap in Nigeria’s digital marketplace.

Key Takeaways

• Glovo approved fake vendor within 48 hours, no KYB checks
• Chowdeck allowed restricted access despite mismatched CAC, enabling fraud
• Both platforms rely on manual documents, not cross‑checked with regulators
• Nigeria lacks specific food‑delivery regulations, unlike India and China
• Fraud risk threatens consumer safety and platform reputation

Pulse Analysis

The investigation showed that creating a phantom restaurant on Glovo required only a fabricated tax ID, a personal bank account and a ₦20,000 activation fee (about $53). After uploading a copied Instagram menu, the fake store went live within two days, allowing the team to place and fulfill an order. Chowdeck’s process was even faster: despite a rejected CAC match, the platform let the impostor operate under a temporary $263 payout cap, demonstrating how minimal checks can be bypassed.

Nigeria’s food‑delivery sector operates in a regulatory vacuum. While fintech firms like OPay and Moniepoint faced ₦1 billion ($2.6 million) fines for KYC failures, no law mandates KYB for restaurant listings. In contrast, India’s FSSAI and China’s SAMR enforce strict vendor verification, food‑safety standards, and hefty penalties for ghost operators. These frameworks reduce fraud and protect consumers, underscoring the disparity in oversight.

The lax onboarding practices risk eroding consumer trust and exposing diners to unsafe food. As platforms scale, coordinated oversight between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and NAFDAC could fill the gap, instituting mandatory verification against tax and corporate registries. Strengthening KYB would align Nigeria’s food‑delivery market with global standards, safeguarding both users and the platforms’ reputations.