Woman posed as Marriott associate’s sister to get discounts for hotel stays in S’pore

Published Sep 04, 2026, 03:43 PM

Updated Sep 04, 2026, 03:43 PM

An American woman, Kao Jane Zhao, falsely claimed to be the sister of a Marriott associate to get discounted hotel rates in Singapore, obtaining nearly $3,400 in total discounts.

She checked into Sheraton Towers Singapore in September 2024 and obtained more than $1,500 in discounts..

Kao pleaded guilty to a cheating charge on Sept 4 and will be sentenced in October.

SINGAPORE - An American woman travelled to Singapore claiming to be the sister of a Marriott associate to repeatedly obtain discounted room rates.

Kao Jane Zhao, 41, who obtained nearly $3,400 in discounts, pleaded guilty to a cheating charge involving more than $1,500.

Eight other charges, including those linked to the remaining amount, will be considered when she is sentenced in October. She has since made full restitution.

The court heard that in 2024, she was in the United States when she went on classified advertisements website Craiglist and bought an Explore membership - a program by hotel company Marriott Bonvoy - from an unknown seller for US$300 (S$380).

State Prosecuting Officer (SPO) Zakir Hussain said Kao knew the seller had falsely stated in the Explore membership authorisation form that she was the sister of one Michael Melendez, a Marriott associate.

She also knew that only Marriott associates and their family members could receive discounted rates for their rooms at participating properties worldwide by presenting the “Explore by Marriott Bonvoy Program Authorisation Form” at the front desk.

Such properties included Sheraton Towers Singapore.

On Sept 8, 2024, Kao checked into the hotel after presenting the form to its front desk manager, falsely representing herself as Melendez’s sister.

She then dishonestly induced Sheraton Towers to deliver discounted room rates to stay at the hotel for five nights.

After that, she extended her stay at the hotel on four separate occasions for another five consecutive nights at the discounted rate.

Kao checked out on Sept 18, 2024, only to return five days later to stay four more nights.

In total, she received more than $1,500 in discounts.

During her final stay, the manager verified her authorisation form with his counterparts in the US and found out she was not Melendez’s sister.

The manager alerted the police and Kao was arrested.

On Sept 4, defence lawyer Gino Hardial Singh from Abbots Chambers asked the court to sentence her to a fine of not more than $5,000, adding her conduct arose from poor judgment.

For cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined or both.

Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times’ court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts.

发布于 2026 年 9 月 4 日下午 3:43

更新于2026年9月4日下午3:43

美国女子高珍妮·赵（Kao Jane Zhao）谎称自己是万豪酒店员工的妹妹，以此骗取新加坡酒店的折扣价，总共获得了近 3400 美元的折扣。

她于 2024 年 9 月入住新加坡喜来登大酒店，并获得了超过 1500 美元的折扣。

高某于9月4日承认诈骗罪，将于10月被判刑。

新加坡——一名美国女子前往新加坡，谎称自己是万豪酒店一名员工的妹妹，多次骗取酒店客房折扣价。

41岁的赵高珍（音译）获得了近3400美元的折扣，她承认犯有欺诈罪，涉案金额超过1500美元。

包括与剩余款项相关的指控在内，其他八项指控将在十月份的量刑听证会上予以考虑。她目前已全额赔偿。

法庭获悉，2024 年，她在美国时，在分类广告网站 Craiglist 上以 300 美元（380 新元）的价格从一位不知名的卖家那里购买了 Explore 会员资格——这是酒店公司 Marriott Bonvoy 的一项会员计划。

国家检察官扎基尔·侯赛因 (Zakir Hussain) 表示，高知道卖家在 Explore 会员授权表格中谎称自己是万豪酒店员工迈克尔·梅伦德斯 (Michael Melendez) 的妹妹。

她还知道，只有万豪酒店的员工及其家人才能通过在前台出示“万豪旅享家探索计划授权表”在全球参与活动的酒店享受客房折扣价。

这些物业包括新加坡喜来登大酒店。

2024 年 9 月 8 日，Kao 向酒店前台经理出示了该表格，并谎称自己是 Melendez 的妹妹，随后入住酒店。

然后，她以不诚实的方式诱使喜来登酒店提供折扣房价，让她在该酒店入住五晚。

之后，她又四次以折扣价在该酒店续住五晚。

Kao 于 2024 年 9 月 18 日退房，但五天后又返回并住了四晚。

她总共获得了超过1500美元的折扣。

在她最后一次入住期间，经理向美国同行核实了她的授权表格，发现她并不是梅伦德斯的妹妹。

经理报了警，高被逮捕了。

9 月 4 日，来自 Abbots Chambers 的辩护律师 Gino Hardial Singh 请求法庭判处她不超过 5,000 美元的罚款，并补充说她的行为是由于判断失误造成的。

对于作弊行为，违法者可被判处最高三年监禁、罚款或两者并罚。

沙菲克·阿尔哈提卜是《海峡时报》的法庭记者，主要报道国家法院审理的刑事案件。