Two people have been sentenced to prison time for scamming Shanghai Disneyland guests with fraudulent VIP packages and line-skip tickets.
Shanghai Disneyland Scam
According to China Daily, the Pudong New Area People’s Court of Shanghai sentenced the defendants, identified by the surnames Yao and Wu, to 14 months and 10 months in prison, respectively, for fraud. They were also fined. Yao appealed the verdict but then withdrew the appeal.
Between July and August 2024, the pair advertised VIP Shanghai Disneyland packages on social media despite not being affiliated with the Disney resort. These packages included line-skip passes (known as Disney Premier Access at Shanghai Disneyland), early park entry, and guided tours. They charged between 799 to 4,880 yuan ($112 to $685) per person.
After collecting payments, they would either not provide guests with the Premier Access passes or only provide a limited amount. They also sent unlicensed tour guides, who would abandon guests or only guide them remotely through the WeChat app. The defendants and guides would then split the funds.
The investigation found the defendants established multiple fake travel companies to carry out the fraud.
When guests complained, the defendants refused reimbursement. Documented losses for multiple victims totaled more than 78,000 yuan (about $11,000).
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