LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Reader Email: Hilton Honors Gold & Diamond Scams In China (Shared Accounts & Sold Invitations)

by John Ollila
January 18, 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
8

A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a report of a widespread Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond fraud that is taking place in China.

Conrad Beijing

Remember to send us your questions and comments by email, and Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’ll try to cover them here several times a week.

You can access Hilton Honors here.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Hilton Honors Rate & Bonus Points And Miles Promotions

Here’s the email from the reader:

There are many Chinese sellers selling Hilton old/diamond status invitation codes recently. They are all located in China, and they do have a lot of diamond accounts

All of their accounts had English first name, Chinese last name and an email end with @163.com or @sina.com. They had created these accounts because they are trying to book hotels to different people who had the same last name. So these people can get diamond benefits by using their diamond accounts. They can earn money and points to provide these services.

For example, they had an account which is called “John Wang”, so this “John Wang” account could be used by many other people such as “XXX Wang” or “YYY Wang”, because these people could tell the front desk that their English name is “John”.

Recently, Hilton is giving out gold gift codes to diamond members, some of these sellers had over thousands diamond accounts. They did not get code via emails, so they said they will send email to priorityletter@hilton.com to ask for gift codes, and selling it over the platform like eBay or others.

Please note 99% of these accounts come with English first name, Chinese last name and an email end with @163.com and @sina.com.

Also, all these accounts were already used by different people with different first name but same last name in China. I believe Hilton could check these characteristics easily. This is the best chance for them to catch these accounts as they are going to ask for the gift codes these days.

I know you had a connection with Hilton’s people, are you willing to tell this thing to them? I had tried by myself to tell Hilton about this, but it seems like nobody care about this thing. I could provide more information if you want me to do.

I did forward this reader’s email to the Hilton spokesperson, but we didn’t receive their reply by the time this article was published.

However, I was in touch with a western hotelier in China who told me that all kinds of scams in this market are expected, including the ones that the reader indicated above. They are challenging to stop.

So, what appears to be happening here is that there are sellers in the Chinese market who have thousands of Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond accounts under common Chinese last names with an English first name.

It is not uncommon for people with a non-English first name to have one as a nickname if they deal with foreign nationals or travel overseas.

However, these fraudsters book individual travelers under these accounts under the pretext that they get the elite member benefits while the seller receives the points, which they later likely also sell.

Due to Hilton’s current promotion that allows all Diamond members to gift Gold-status and those with 100 or more nights in 2020 to gift Diamond, there is an influx of these “invitations” available for purchase on a platform that the reader mentioned above.

Hilton allows select members to gift Gold or Diamond:

Hilton Honors Diamond Members Can Gift Gold/Diamond Until January 31, 2021

Conclusion

Not sure if there is a way to identify to a 100% certainty who is the account holder, and if the guest checking is actually using their own account rather than fraudulently using one of these “communal” accounts?

Most loyalty programs don’t require birth dates or other personal information, such as ID numbers. I would be hesitant to give them due to frequent hacks and lax data protection protocols by many companies in the sector, and the prospect of misuse of the data.

I hope that Hilton gets this activity under control in China and other markets where it is possibly prevalent. It could affect the treatment of Gold and Diamond members who legitimately qualify under the T&Cs of the program.

Previous Post

Prepaid Hotel Voucher: Claiming a Refund After Regular Services Can’t Be Provided Due To Covid-19

Next Post

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club 50% Tier & Bonus Points on Travel Through December 31, 2021 (Book By February 2)

Related Articles

Singapore Airlines Awards Temporarily Not Available Using Partners

Reader Question: How To Get Matched By Singapore Airlines? (Cathay Pacific Diamond)

John Ollila
May 18, 2022
1

A LoyaltyLobby reader with a Cathay Pacific status wonders how they could get the status match by Singapore Airlines because...

Reader Question: What Travel Insurance I Would Recommend?

Reader Question: What Travel Insurance I Would Recommend?

John Ollila
May 12, 2022
15

A LoyaltyLobby reader left us a question regarding travel insurance that I would recommend for someone traveling to Southeast Asia....

World of Hyatt Adds Two More Tokyo Hotels Under “Small Luxury Hotels” Flag, Now Available For Points Redemptions

Reader Question: What Is Going On With The Japan Reopening, Should I Book Tickets & Hotels?

Sebastian Powell
May 10, 2022
13

Today we have a Reader Question that is leaning on John's recent article about signs that Japan might open up...

Upgrade Your Travel IQ

Make the most of your travel with our free and daily newsletter with the latest hotel and airline news and promotions.

We do not sell or share email addresses.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

Bali Stays Closed Until 3rd Quarter 2022?
Travel News

Indonesia Drops Covid-Test Requirement For Vaccinated Incoming Travelers

May 17, 2022
UPDATE: Marriott Bonvoy Targeted Bonus Offers Through August 31, 2022 (Post Yours!)
Marriott Bonvoy

UPDATE: Marriott Bonvoy Targeted Bonus Offers Through August 31, 2022 (Post Yours!)

May 18, 2022
Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans
Hilton Honors

Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans

July 25, 2021
Easy Thailand Pass Entry Experience on May 13, 2022
Travel News

Easy Thailand Pass Entry Experience on May 13, 2022

May 15, 2022
Whine Wednesdays: Centralized Hotel Elevator System With External Floor Selection
Whine Wednesdays

Whine Wednesdays: Centralized Hotel Elevator System With External Floor Selection

May 18, 2022

Top Categories

  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Accor ALL
  • Airfare Of The Day
  • Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG)
  • Hyatt – World of Hyatt
  • American Airlines – AAdvantage
  • Travel News
  • United Airlines – Mileage Plus
ADVERTISEMENT

All Categories

In Case You Missed It

Entry/Exit Passport Stamps Are Still Available, Even As Some Countries Officially Did Away With Them

Entry/Exit Passport Stamps Are Still Available, Even As Some Countries Officially Did Away With Them

May 14, 2022
Emirates Buy Skywards Miles At 35% Off Through May 27, 2022

Emirates Buy Skywards Miles At 35% Off Through May 27, 2022

May 17, 2022
Airfare of the Day [Business Class] SAUDIA Amsterdam to Dubai from 432€

Airfare of the Day [Business Class] SAUDIA Amsterdam to Dubai from 432€

May 16, 2022
Finnair Plus Buy Points 30% Off & 30% Bonus Through May 31, 2022

Finnair Plus Buy Points 30% Off & 30% Bonus Through May 31, 2022

May 17, 2022
Compensation Clinic: Missed Connection In Helsinki & Finnair EC 261/2004 Compensation

Alaska Airlines Double Mileage Plan Miles For Finnair’s Seattle Flights June 1 – October 28, 2022

May 12, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2011, we have been helping millions of visitors like you untangle travel loyalty programs for free upgrades, flights and hotel nights.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

Site Navigation

  • About LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Airfares
  • Contact Us

Hotel Promotions

  • Accor
  • Hilton
  • IHG Rewards
  • Marriott
  • World of Hyatt

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Our free daily newsletter sends you the latest information on hotel and airline programs.

We do not share or sell email addresses.

Site & Contents ©2011-2022 LoyaltyLobby.com
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

  • News
  • Hotel Promotions
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • World of Hyatt
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
No Result
View All Result

© 2011–2021 LoyaltyLobby.com - Site & Contents