Woman fined $5k for cheating by posing as Marriott associate’s sister to get hotel stay discounts

On October 6, a 41-year-old American woman, Kao Jane Zhao, was fined $5,000 for cheating by posing as the sister of a Marriott associate to obtain discounted hotel room rates in Singapore. Zhao obtained approximately $3,400 in discounts, which she subsequently repaid in full. She had pleaded guilty in September to a cheating charge involving more than $1,500 and was found guilty of eight additional charges during her sentencing.

Zhao's scheme began when she purchased an Explore membership from a stranger on the Craigslist website for $300 (S$380) in 2024. She knew this membership was fraudulent, as the seller had falsely stated she was the sister of Marriott associate Michael Melendez. The Explore membership allowed Marriott associates and their family members to receive discounted room rates at participating hotels worldwide, including Sheraton Towers Singapore.

On September 8, Zhao checked into Sheraton Towers, presenting the fraudulent authorisation form to the front desk manager and falsely claiming to be Melendez's sister. She dishonestly induced the hotel to grant her discounted rates for five nights, after which she extended her stay on four separate occasions for another five consecutive nights at the discounted rate. She checked out on September 18 and returned five days later to stay an additional four nights, receiving over $1,500 in discounts in total.

Upon Zhao's final stay, the hotel manager verified the authorisation form with his counterparts in the US and discovered she was not Melendez's sister. The manager alerted the police, and Zhao was subsequently arrested. Her defence lawyer had previously requested a fine of no more than $5,000, citing that her actions were a result of poor judgment.