Someone said you can *buy* Marriott Plat on Taobao, is it true?
Mar 29, 2019, 12:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marco Polo Gold
Posts: 1,084
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.
No wonder most of the time I've stayed at any Marriott properties the lounge is FULL and like a zoo.
Mar 29, 2019, 1:18 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
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 can't do a thing because they don't know the exact detail. And it is more difficult than it seems to investigate this.
Mar 29, 2019, 1:45 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,193
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).
Mar 29, 2019, 2:46 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JRF
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,784
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?
And why is it *always* (old) gold/(new) plats that are the most DYKWIM/badly behaving and entitled everywhere you go?
Mar 29, 2019, 3:26 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYJ
Posts: 111
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.
Mar 29, 2019, 4:35 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: IN, US
Programs: Mariott SE, HH, SPG SE, LT S, 9W BP
Posts: 63
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 ?
Is it possible for the OP/anybody here to share how this scam is done ?
Mar 29, 2019, 6:17 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
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
Mar 29, 2019, 6:21 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: SkyTeam Elite, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 262
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.
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.
Mar 29, 2019, 6:27 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
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.
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.
So the 100 RMB only cover the bill name change ... not the room itself.
Mar 29, 2019, 6:28 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,808
Mar 29, 2019, 6:38 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,041
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...
Mar 29, 2019, 7:32 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: BAEC Silver, Avis Preferred, Hilton Gold
Posts: 521