Businesses conduct background checks on social media influencers before working with them, but some acknowledge they will need to do more in the light of the news that a Singaporean photographer had passed off stock images as his own on Instagram.

The Regent Singapore hotel works with influencers once every two months to promote dining, stays or both. A hotel spokesman told The Straits Times: "It honestly never occurred to us before to check the authenticity of photos, but we understand that background checks are of paramount importance."