Man posing as chef to scam restaurants

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Police said a man is using a chef's jacket and business cards to scam people in Marion, Hamilton, and Hendricks counties. The man has managed to eat, drink, and be merry using a reputable name in the restaurant business.

Mike Hibbeln is the executive chef at Rick's Boatyard Cafe. He first learned there was a problem from a worker at Jillian's downtown. The worker said a man came in wearing a chef's jacket and ran up a $60 tab and said Hibbeln would take care of it.

"She believed him like the 20 other people who've gotten burned on this deal," said Hibbeln.

Hibbeln said the man calls himself "Bill Matthews" and is using Hibbeln's business cards to further his scam. The man actually picked up the business cards from a display at Rick's Boatyard.

"From most people who've called, he uses the same deal. He tells them ‘This is the guy I work for. I need to go pick him up at the airport. I locked my keys in my car, I need $75 to get a locksmith so I can get in my car and pick up my chef.' And people are giving him like anywhere from $20, $30, $40," said Hibbeln.

Hibbeln said he also heard from a couple who Matthews had approached out in front of the Conrad Hotel, but they were smart enough not to take him up on his offer of a free meal.

I want the guy caught. Quit ripping people off in my name and using the Boatyard and slandering both of us," said Hibbeln.

Hibbeln says he's hearing from callers that the scammer is a white man about 6'3" with medium-length black hair.

Anyone with information regarding the case should call metro police at 327-6621.