A 21-year-old man in China, identified only by his surname Jiang, has been arrested for scamming and blackmailing hotels across the country. Over a span of 10 months, Jiang stayed at more than 300 hotels and successfully scammed 63 of them. His elaborate scheme involved using props like dead cockroaches, used condoms, cicadas, and hair strands to stage complaints about unsanitary conditions, demanding free stays and compensation.
According to reports from the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Jiang’s scheme began after he ran out of money he had set aside to enroll in college. Desperate for funds, he turned to hotels, exploiting minor flaws or planting insects and bugs to create false hygiene complaints. He then threatened to expose these issues online unless he was compensated. At times, Jiang checked into multiple hotels in a single day to continue his scam.
The scam was only uncovered after one hotel reported Jiang to the police when he attempted to extort money by claiming unsanitary conditions. As the investigation progressed, several hotels realized that Jiang had raised similar complaints at other locations, leading them to connect the dots. A staff member at one hotel revealed that they had noticed a recurring pattern of complaints from the same guest, which prompted further action.
Following Jiang’s arrest, police found 23 packets containing items used in his scams. Investigations revealed that Jiang had successfully extorted a total of $5,200 from the 63 hotels. He had been using his deceptive tactics to exploit hotels for free accommodations and cash, leaving behind fake evidence to back up his false claims.
