Man hid stones in hotel food, scammed over 1M yuan in 5 years!

Imagine going to a hotel breakfast and secretly discovering that someone put stones right into your food! Sounds like a plot from a bizarre movie, right? But for five years, a man in China did exactly that, scamming over 1 million yuan across more than 400 hotels in 22 provinces. 😲

The Strange Scheme: How It All Worked

This crafty man had a simple yet sneaky trick. Before heading to the hotel, he’d pluck small stones from car tire cracks—yes, seriously—from places just right to hide in food unnoticed. Then, during breakfast, he’d surreptitiously bury these stones inside his meal, acting all casual as if nothing was wrong.

When he bit down painfully on the stone, he’d roll his eyes, grimace, and pretend it seriously hurt his teeth. But here’s the *twist*: he never asked for money himself. Nope! He’d just wait for the hotel management to come knocking, worried about bad reviews or damage to their reputation. Typically, hotels would rather pay a few thousand yuan quietly than risk public scandal.

From Small Time to Nationwide Scammer

At first, the man had a legitimate reason to claim compensation — he actually broke a tooth on a stone by accident. But after business failures and tightening finances, he smelled opportunity and decided to exploit it creatively but illegally. Over five years, he traveled across 100+ cities, targeting over 400 hotels! 😲 That’s what you call dedication… or stubbornness… or just plain fraud.

This scam earned him between 1,000 and 2,000 yuan per case, which quickly added up to more than a million yuan in total. But eventually, the police caught on. He was arrested in July after high-tech surveillance and detailed investigations gone into dozens of hotels’ CCTV footage.

Lessons and Warnings for Hotels and Consumers

This jaw-dropping case raises important questions about hotel safety and consumer rights. Hotels are now reminded to maintain comprehensive surveillance systems and to carefully verify evidence before settling compensation claims. It’s a reminder that protecting yourself requires diligence and smart business practices.

For consumers and the general public, the story is a cautionary tale: trying to cheat the system with unethical tricks might seem clever but ultimately leads to serious legal trouble. The man’s arrest and prosecution show that no scam lasts forever and crime doesn’t pay! ⚖️

Wrapping Up This Odd Yet Real Crime Story

Who would have thought stones in food could create such a complicated scam? This case is a wild mix of creativity, greed, and audacity that stretched across half a decade. While it’s tempting to chuckle at the bizarre nature of the crime, the message is clear: honesty is the best policy, and integrity matters — whether you’re a customer or running a hotel.

Next time you’re eating breakfast, just remember: not all surprises in food are delicious! 🍳😉