A romantic evening at one of Hong Kongโs most exclusive restaurants turned into an expensive nightmare for a local woman, who was allegedly abandoned by her online date and left to settle a staggering bill of over HKD$84,000.
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The incident, which police are investigating as a suspected fraud case, occurred on Thursday night at Man Wah, the acclaimed Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant perched on the 25th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central.
According to police reports, the 31-year-old woman met her date, a man who claimed to be a lawyer and is believed to be aged 26 or 27, through the messaging app Telegram. The pair had been acquainted for approximately a year online before deciding to meet in person for the luxury dinner.
The evening took a sour turn when the man excused himself from the table, purportedly to use the restroom, and never returned. Unable to reach him, the woman grew suspicious and eventually had to call friends for financial help to pay the eye-watering bill. Their meal was far from modest. The couple ordered the โMan Wah Premium Set Dinnerโ at HKD$2,388 per person and, most significantly, a bottle of 2002 Krug Clos dโAmbonnay champagne. This particular vintage, often described as the โRolls-Royce of champagnes,โ alone cost a jaw-dropping HKD$71,800. With the addition of a 10% service charge, the final total surpassed HKD$84,000.
Police confirmed they received a report from the woman on Friday and have classified the case as a โrequest for police assistance.โ No arrests have been made so far, and the suspect, surnamed Chan, remains at large. This case bears a striking resemblance to other recent โdine-and-dashโ scams targetting online daters in the city. Just last month, a 29-year-old man was arrested for allegedly impersonating a firefighter and tricking three women he met online into paying for lavish meals totalling HKD$3,800. He was arrested on suspicion of obtaining property by deception and released on bail.
The latest incident highlights the risks of online dating and the extreme measures some scammers will take. For now, the investigation continues as police search for the man who enjoyed a champagne-fuelled feast and vanished, leaving his date to pick up the tab.
Catherine Pun
A Hong Kong native with Filipino-Chinese roots, Catherine infuses every part of her life with zest, whether sheโs belting out karaoke tunes or exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. Her downtime often includes unwinding with Netflix and indulging in a 10-step skincare routine. As the Editorial Director of Friday Club., Catherine brings her wealth of experience from major publishing houses, where she refined her craft and even authored a book. Her sharp editorial insight makes her a dynamic force, always on the lookout for the next compelling narrative.
