Dine-and-Dash Scam: Man flees $80,000 dinner bill including pricey wine

Hong Kong police are investigating a suspected fraud case after a 31-year-old woman was left to pay an HK$80,000 restaurant bill when her date fled during a luxury dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central.

The victim, a local resident, had known the man for about a year via Telegram. The scammer, surnamed Chan and claiming to be a lawyer, is believed to be 26–27 years old.

They met at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, and during the meal, the man excused himself to use the restroom and never returned. The dinner reportedly included an expensive bottle of Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 2002, widely regarded as the Rolls-Royce among the champagnes, contributing to the high cost.

According to information online, the Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 2002 is sold at the price of at least HK$21,500.

Police are treating the incident as a case of fraud, and no arrests have been made so far.