Taipei (The China Post/ANN) - Riding on the wave of online shopping, a fraudster had fooled over 20 "customers" into booking for his non-existent hotel in Taichung, making over NT$100,000 (US$3,300) over the course of the Chinese New Year holidays.
Attracted by the striking photographs of well-furnished rooms, a total of 25 victims had eagerly booked at a Taichung day inn, and only realized upon arriving that at the address of the inn in fact situated a shoe store.
Monetary losses on the victims' part ranged from NT$1,000 to NT$10,000, while the psychological stress victims went through could not be quantified - some had flown in from Kinmen, and being deceived had spoiled all the holiday festiveness.
The Taichung police are currently tracing the fraudster with his bank wiring account, as the phone number of the non-existent day inn he had left the victims with no longer functions, the police said.
To protect consumers' rights, a Day Inn Inspection Team, assembled by the tourism, urban development, fire fighting, police, health, policy making, and taxing governmental units, had from time to time conducted inspections, yet similar illegal cases still thrive, the Taichung City Government said.
Only hotels and accommodations with the hotel industry registration are legally recognized lodgings, the Taichung Tourism Bureau pointed out, warning consumers against falling into the trap of illegal hotels.
The Taichung Tourism Bureau urged travelers to find lodging at legally registered hotels, and encouraged folks to take into consideration the cheap and safe accommodations organized through the Taiwan Youth Hostel Association.
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