Someone said you can *buy* Marriott Plat on Taobao, is it true?
 

Ok, it was a comment on a closed trend (separate topic), is this true and if yes shouldn't Marriott do something about it?

No wonder most of the time I've stayed at any Marriott properties the lounge is FULL and like a zoo.

Assume yes.

Marriott can't do a thing because they don't know the exact detail. And it is more difficult than it seems to investigate this.

Marriott told me there were issues in China and they are trying to crackdown (with some success). I believe they said rogue check in staff and tour groups cause a lot of issues (ie giving status to one account rather than actual person checking in).

How exactly would that work? People make up fake accounts, fraudulently award status, and sell it *and* change all the info on it to match?

And why is it *always* (old) gold/(new) plats that are the most DYKWIM/badly behaving and entitled everywhere you go?

Supposedly you give them your account info and they'll fraudulently reserve and check in using your info from the beginning. Changing everything on the account would be very easy to spot.

Would this not be equal to fraud ? Also will the hotels not require and ID during check in ? There is wrong at so many levels here.

Is it possible for the OP/anybody here to share how this scam is done ?

Anyone can buy Marriott status, book any hotel in the system for 50 nights, check in and pay.

I guess if they did change name of a "premade" account, that will need involvement of Marriott corporate (whichever office) handling the name change.

But then if one have to create own account then give the seller the information, I can only guess that the status come 50 days later? as no more multiple room credit applies post 18/8/18.

Again it will be quite easy to track multiple of people in china stays continuously for 50 days only at certain hotels

I met a Chinese woman this past December who told me what they do is some people "know" someone in the hotel and they will book you a night at a hotel you don't really stay at and it is 100RMB a night, so they can buy plat for about 5000RMB.

I would think Marriott would be able to tell if that were happening though and put a stop to it as when they dish out points it looks at room in US dollars. 100RMB is way too cheap for someone to get 50 nights at that price.

If this true then I can only guess they credited someone (non member) stays to the bought account.
So the 100 RMB only cover the bill name change ... not the room itself.

Some singles might be interested if thats true :D

Wouldn't they just mix your legitimate Marriott account details in with a tour group booking, even though somebody else from the actual travel group would actually be using the room? Nobody at a hotel checks passport details of every single member of a group. 50 nights later and you are Platinum...

But did group tour rate is eligible ?

Not just Taobao, you can find it on eBay too:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Marriott-Bo...1/153103714026