| Aloha Industry Partners,
We are writing to alert you to a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting Hawaiʻi tourism businesses through “Little Red Book” (Xiaohongshu). This organized operation has already resulted in substantial financial losses for multiple local businesses through fraudulent chargebacks. Below, please find more information about how the scam works and actions taken by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through Hawaiʻi Tourism China.
The Fraud Scheme:
An organized scam operation is using “Little Red Book” (小红书) to illegally sell heavily discounted tours and tickets for Hawaiʻi attractions, including state parks, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, whale watching, snorkeling, scuba tours, and other activities.
How the Scam Works:
From what we understand, the scam involves selling heavily discounted Hawaiʻi tour packages to Chinese visitors through unauthorized channels. The transactions appear legitimate at first—tourists receive valid confirmations, participate in tours, and receive services from legitimate businesses. However, after services are rendered, fraudulent chargebacks are initiated through various means, resulting in financial losses for local businesses.
This scheme is particularly difficult to detect as visitors appear with legitimate bookings under their real names, and the fraud only becomes apparent after services are provided and businesses have already incurred the operational costs.
Actions Taken by Hawaiʻi Tourism China
To combat this growing threat, Hawaiʻi Tourism China (HTC) has already taken several steps:
1. Platform Reporting: HTC has filed claims on Little Red Book based on information provided by a Hawaiʻi partner, targeting suspicious accounts selling heavily discounted Hawaiʻi tours and activities.
2. Consumer Warnings: HTC has posted alert notices on all official social media accounts, strongly recommending that customers only book through authorized OTA platforms such as Trip.com. These warnings are currently circulating on Little Red Book, WeChat, Weibo, and Douyin.
3. Expanded Reach: HTC has coordinated with Brand USA to amplify these warnings. They have already reposted the notice on their WeChat account last week to reach a broader audience.
4. Diplomatic Engagement: HTC has met with the US Embassy Beijing Commercial Department, who are now aware of these reported scams. They have expressed willingness to engage directly with Little Red Book but require comprehensive evidence documentation.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We are sharing this information solely for awareness purposes so you can stay informed about emerging threats affecting our tourism industry.
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority will continue to monitor this situation closely and share any significant developments as they occur. If you have experienced similar fraudulent activity, we encourage you to document all incidents thoroughly and contact the Better Business Bureau.
Mahalo,
Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi
Interim President & Chief Executive Officer
Media contact:
Kalani L. Kaʻanāʻanā
Interim Public Affairs Officer
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority
Email: pao@gohta.net |
