Fake Disney Hotel Website Scrapped After Exposé

By Cathy Wu

The grand opening of Shanghai Disney Resort is around the corner, but be careful, crooks are also cashing in on the Disney-fever. Recently, a fake Disney hotel website was exposed by Chinese media.

According to CCTV, the fake Disney hotel website is disney-hotel-shanghai.cn, while the authentic one is shanghaidisneyresort.com. The fake website adopted a similar page design as the resort, with photos of Mickey Mouse and Disney castles. Room rates started at RMB3,205, which is even higher than the official website at RMB1,650. The website showed the hotel as being located in the resort.
However, at the bottom of the homepage was the fine print, "Disney Hotel is not an official website." Real smooth...
According to CCTV, the fake hotel required a credit card number and ID card number for booking, which might be exploited. The customer service number provided by the website was also listed in several booking websites for other chain hotels. After the CCTV reporter called the number, the staff member who picked up the phone vaguely said they were only a travel agency.

Shanghai Disney Resort responded they have only two themed hotels listed on the official site. Booking is available both on their official website and large booking agencies in China, such as Ctrip. Also, rooms in June are almost sold out.

After the exposé, the fake website was blocked.

[Image via CCTV, Weibo]

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