Ever heard of someone scamming their way into free hotel stays just because they love the vibe of a staycation? Well, buckle up, because this story is wild! Meet Jiang, a 21-year-old college student from China, whose obsession with hotels took a seriously shady turn.
When Staycations Turn Into an Obsession
Jiang was your average student—at least on the surface. But unlike his classmates, who probably spent their weekends cramming for exams or binge-watching shows, Jiang had a thing for hotels. And not just an occasional stay. Nope, this guy practically lived in them!
According to VN Express, he’d check into a different hotel every day. Sometimes, he’d even hit up three or four hotels in a single day! Imagine the sheer luxury—or chaos—of hopping from one fancy lobby to another like it’s no big deal.
At first, Jiang used his pocket money to fund his hobby. But, let’s be real—hotel stays aren’t cheap. It didn’t take long for his funds to dry up. By the time September 2023 rolled around, he was flat broke, and even his tuition money had vanished into his staycation lifestyle. Yikes.
But did he give up? Nope. Jiang’s love for hotels burned brighter than ever. That’s when he decided to switch gears from paying to… well, scamming.
His Genius (But Terrible) Plan
Jiang came up with a foolproof (or so he thought) scheme. Here’s the setup: he carried a “magic” bag full of creepy and gross stuff—think dead cockroaches, crickets, strands of hair, and even used condoms. (Ew, right?)
Whenever Jiang checked into a room, he’d scatter these items around and then call the hotel staff in outrage. He’d act all shocked, pointing at the bugs or whatever gross thing he’d planted, and accuse the hotel of being filthy.
If the staff didn’t immediately agree to his demands, Jiang would pull out his ultimate weapon: threats. He’d say he’d leave a scathing review online or even report the hotel to authorities. His demands? Free stays or cash compensation.
The Scams Work… Until They Don’t
At first, many hotels fell for Jiang’s act. Who wants to risk their reputation being dragged through the mud online, right? Over time, 63 hotels across China gave in to his tricks. Some handed over free stays, while others paid up just to make him go away.
Get this—he managed to collect a whopping 38,000 yuan (that’s about 83 million rupiahs) in compensation. Not bad for a broke student, huh?
Jiang’s scam was so successful that it became a routine. He stayed in 380 hotels between November 2023 and August 2024, hopping from one location to another like some kind of con artist on a world tour.
How He Got Caught
Jiang’s luck finally ran out on August 8, 2024, when he checked into a hotel in Jiande City, Zhejiang Province. He pulled his usual stunt, planting his gross “evidence” and demanding 400 yuan (about 875,000 rupiahs) from the hotel manager.
But this time, the manager wasn’t buying it. He knew his hotel wasn’t as dirty as Jiang claimed and decided to take a stand. Instead of giving in, the manager called the police.
When officers showed up, they found Jiang red-handed—with a bag full of 23 “tools” for his scams. Imagine their faces when they saw what he was carrying!
The Fallout
It didn’t take long for the police to piece everything together. After an investigation, Jiang was officially charged with extortion. As of now, he’s behind bars, and his hotel-hopping days are over.
The craziest part? Jiang’s story blew up online, leaving people shocked and disgusted. Some folks joked that he should’ve just become a hotel reviewer if he loved staying in them so much. Others couldn’t get over the effort he put into his scams—like, seriously, carrying around dead bugs and hair? That’s next-level dedication, even if it’s for something so wrong.
Lessons From This Wild Tale
So, what can we learn from Jiang’s misadventures?
- Staycations are great, but don’t overdo it. Sure, a night in a cozy hotel can be fun, but maybe don’t spend your entire tuition on it.
- Honesty is the best policy. Jiang’s hotel scams might’ve worked for a while, but in the end, the truth always comes out.
- Don’t underestimate hotel managers. They’ve seen it all, and if your story sounds fishy, you’re probably getting busted.
Jiang’s story is a mix of shocking and ridiculous, but it’s also a cautionary tale about what can happen when an obsession goes too far. Instead of enjoying his staycations the right way, he let greed and deception take over—and now he’s paying the price.
So, next time you’re tempted to take a shortcut or pull a fast one, think of Jiang and his bag of dead bugs. Maybe just stick to playing it straight—it’s a lot less stressful and way more rewarding in the long run.
