A 21-year-old man, identified by his surname Jiang, was apprehended in China after repeatedly scamming hotels by faking hygiene complaints. Jiang reportedly turned to this fraudulent scheme after depleting funds meant for his college enrollment, using it as a way to secure free stays and monetary compensation.
The Elaborate Plan
As reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Jiang checked into hotels and used props such as cicadas, dead cockroaches, used condoms, and strands of hair to create an illusion of unsanitary conditions. He would then leverage these fake complaints to demand refunds or free accommodations.
“Over a span of 10 months, Jiang frequently stayed at hotels, sometimes checking into three or four different ones in a single day. He would exploit minor flaws or plant insects, bugs, and hair to threaten hotels with complaints or online exposure, demanding free stays or compensation,” shared a police officer from Linhai in Zhejiang.
The Scam Unveiled
Jiang’s operation came to light when a hotel reported him to authorities after he attempted to extort them with fabricated hygiene violations. This prompted hotel staff to connect with others and identify a pattern of similar complaints from the same individual.
“His complaints about supposed bugs and hair in the rooms were alarming. Upon discussing these incidents with several other hotels, we noticed a recurring pattern with this guest,” a hotel staff member revealed.
Following Jiang’s arrest at a local hotel, authorities discovered 23 packets of materials he used to stage his scams. Investigations revealed that over the past year, Jiang stayed in more than 300 hotels, successfully scamming 63 of them and extorting a total of $5,200.
Jiang’s bold tactics involved checking into multiple hotels within a single day and fabricating hygiene complaints to maximize his gains. However, his extensive fraudulent activities led to collaboration among hotels, ultimately exposing and ending his scheme.
