A man from eastern China has gained notoriety for squandering his university tuition fees on travel instead of enrolling in school, later resorting to an elaborate hotel scam to fund his lifestyle when his money ran out. The 21-year-old, identified only as Jiang from Taizhou in Zhejiang province, used a fraudulent scheme to extort free stays and compensation from 63 hotels, ultimately leading to his arrest and widespread condemnation online.
Jiang’s deceptive journey began in September of the previous year when he chose not to attend university and instead used his tuition funds to travel. It remains unclear whether the funds were provided by his parents or if the total amount was fully disclosed. When his finances dwindled, Jiang devised an elaborate plan to scam hotels by planting fake evidence of poor hygiene. His collection of “props” included dead cockroaches, cicadas, hair, and used condoms, which he used to stage unsanitary conditions in hotel rooms.
Over a 10-month period, Jiang frequently checked into multiple hotels daily—sometimes as many as three or four in a single day. He would exploit minor flaws or fabricate evidence to threaten hotel staff with public complaints or online exposure, demanding free accommodations or monetary compensation. Many hotels, wary of reputational damage, complied with his demands.
However, Jiang’s scam unraveled on August 8 when a hotel manager, surnamed Ke, reported him to the police. Ke revealed that Jiang had extorted 400 yuan (approximately US$55) by alleging hygiene issues in one of the hotel’s rooms. Upon investigating, police discovered Jiang’s scheme was part of a larger pattern. Discussions with other hotels uncovered similar complaints linked to the same guest.
Jiang was apprehended at a local hotel, where police found 23 packets of incriminating items, including dead cockroaches and used condoms. Investigators determined that since November, Jiang had stayed in over 380 hotels, with suspicious financial transactions involving refunds or compensation in many cases. He eventually admitted to executing 63 scams, accumulating over 38,000 yuan (around US$5,200) in fraudulent gains. Authorities have now referred the case to the Linhai People’s Procuratorate for further legal action.
The case has sparked outrage online, with many condemning Jiang’s actions. Social media users expressed both anger and disbelief, with one questioning his intended field of study, sarcastically suggesting it might have been “fraud and deception.” Another lamented the heartbreak his actions must have caused his family, who likely worked hard to provide the tuition money. A third quipped that Jiang would now receive free accommodation in prison, a fitting consequence for his misdeeds.
