Clerk loses RM277,000 in online hotel booking job scam

New Straits Times

10 hours ago

MUAR: A 42-year-old clerk lost over RM277,000 in savings after falling victim to a part-time job scam that promised lucrative commissions for completing online hotel booking tasks.
The woman was drawn in on July 29 after searching for extra income opportunities via a search engine.
She clicked on a link that led her to an individual claiming to represent a company named "HR HotelRunner," which was allegedly hiring part-timers to book hotels online.
After sharing her details, she was added to a WhatsApp group named "BookAssist Marketing GRP" and was instructed to complete several hotel booking assignments.
She was required to make upfront payments and was promised commissions ranging between 10 and 35 per cent per task.
Muar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the victim received a small commission after her first transaction, which convinced her to continue.
"In a short time, she completed 44 transactions involving 13 different bank accounts, amounting to RM277,445.65 — all allegedly required to fulfil the assignments," he said in a statement today.
The scam unravelled when the woman was asked to pay an additional fee to withdraw her earnings. Growing suspicious, she refused and lodged a police report yesterday.
The hotel booking scam — also known as the "hotel runner" scam — is part of a rising trend in online fraud targeting people seeking part-time or remote work.
Victims are often approached through Google search results, WhatsApp, or LinkedIn, where scammers pose as recruiters offering online hotel booking or review-based assignments.
After gaining trust, victims are added to WhatsApp groups and asked to make upfront payments for seemingly simple tasks, with commissions of up to 35 per cent promised.
Initial small payouts are made to build credibility, but later transactions require escalating payments, eventually wiping out victims' savings.
The name "HR HotelRunner" appears to mimic a legitimate hotel technology company called HotelRunner.
However, New Straits Times checks found no official link between the scam and the legitimate firm, nor any verified online job postings or ads using that name.
The operation displays hallmarks of an organised fraud syndicate, using cloned identities and fake company fronts to deceive victims.
Raiz said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
He also urged the public to be wary of part-time job offers that promise high returns and to verify the legitimacy of companies or agents before making any transactions.