bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Fran Lu

A Chinese couple have been arrested for printing counterfeit banknotes, using them at local markets, and cheating more than 1,000 victims.
Police in Fuzhou, a city in eastern China’s Jiangxi province, said they received five reports from market vendors about receiving counterfeit banknotes in just one week in September 2023.
This was a marked increase, as they normally only receive such reports once or twice a month, the police said.
It was difficult to track down the suspects because of a lack of surveillance cameras in small, open-air markets and the hazy memories of victims.

However, investigators eventually tracked the banknote forgers down thanks to one surveillance camera that happened to document the whole racket.
According to footage from that camera, one of the suspects, a woman, first offered a real 100-yuan (US$14) banknote to the vendor, then she said she had small change and retrieved the genuine bill.
She then claimed she was mistaken about the small change, and gives a fake 100-yuan banknote to the vendor who fell for the scam as they only checked the note’s authenticity the first time.
Investigations revealed that a woman, surnamed Xu, and her husband, surnamed He, had been operating the con at farmers’ markets and had cheated more than 1,000 victims.
Officers seized 15 counterfeit 100-yuan banknotes at the couple’s home, and the equipment they used to forge the money, including a printer, paper cutters, and ink.

They also found a large number of banknotes the couple scammed out of the vendors, totalling more than 200,000 yuan (US$28,000).
The police said the couple were cunning because they did not keep too many fake banknotes, only printing the amount they would use on a given day.
They usually spent between 300 and 3,000 yuan a day while disguising their identity.
According to China’s Criminal Law, people who produce and use counterfeit money face three to 10 years in jail. They also face a fine of between 50,000 and 500,000 yuan (US$7,000 and US$70,000).
In extreme cases, the perpetrator could even be sentenced to death.

The police said investigations were ongoing.
The case sparked a heated discussion online, with many expressing sympathy for the victims.
“The scammers are evil people. The victims are mostly elderly people from the countryside who still use cash. They were scamming money out of one of society’s most disadvantaged groups,” one person said.
“It is shameless that they preyed on people who make hard-earned money. They should be punished severely,” another commented.


Chinese man, 90, cycles across country after tragic losses of wife, son, daughter-in-law, grandson

Growing Pains meets the ‘kill line’: a new Chinese hot take on the American dream

Chinese buy flats for cremated ashes due to high cemetery costs, leading to law against practice

Public outrage as China traveller at pet-friendly hotel receives text recommending dog meat eateries

Trending in China

‘Shameless’ China couple arrested for printing fake banknotes, using them at local markets

A husband and wife in China have been arrested for printing counterfeit banknotes and passing them off to traders at local markets. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/CCTV

The police seized a printer, paper cutters, and ink when they raided the couple’s home. Photo: CCTV

Investigators also discovered piles of genuine banknotes when they searched the premises. Photo: CCTV

The scammers targeted local markets and disguised themselves in a bid to avoid detection. Photo: CCTV

China doctor tells lethargic, anaemic women to look at muscular men for mood boost

A doctor in China has suggested that women who suffer from lethargy or blood deficiencies should look at muscular men to boost their mood. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Gynaecologist He Zhenye offers advice on women’s health on social media, where he has more than 133,000 followers. Photo: 163.com

He says images like the one above can help women who suffer from insomnia and fatigue from overwork. Photo: 163.com

Women online have given the gynaecologist’s muscular men advice the thumbs up. Photo: Shutterstock

China sound mimicry influencer resembles square-faced monkey, plans to ‘talk’ to the animal

A Chinese sound mimicry influencer, who closely resembles a square-faced monkey, plans to “talk” to the animal, generating immense interest among his online fans. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Douyin

Li responded with good humour about his striking resemblance to the square-faced monkey, stating that he does not mind the jokes as long as they are lighthearted. Photo: Douyin

Zookeepers report that Dazhuang is among the few monkeys at the zoo who can use tools, frequently seen cracking walnuts open using stones. Photo: Douyin

China sports brand sparks outrage after diving queen Quan Hongchan sidelined in event photo

A famous sports brand in China has sparked outrage after the country’s diving queen, Quan Hongchan, was sidelined in an event photo. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Sina/Douyin

In another photo at the same event,  Quan Hongchan, fifth from left, while Chen Yuxi, sixth from right, also put Quan not at the centre. Photo: Baidu

Teammates Chen Yuxi, left, and Quan Hongchan pose playfully for the camera at an event. Photo: Baidu

Quan Hongchan pictured in dramatic action at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Photo: Reuters 

Chinese hospital offers IVF for single women, allows them to meet, evaluate sperm donors

A hospital in eastern China is under investigation for providing IVF services for single women, enabling them to meet and assess potential sperm donors. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The hospital permitted clients to choose a donor based on various criteria, including physical appearance, educational background, nationality, and even the opportunity to meet the donor in person. Photo: Shutterstock

As a growing number of women in China choose not to pursue traditional family paths, educated middle-class women are turning to sperm banks and IVF services abroad to start their families. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese woman earns praise for giving first aid to dehydrated camel in desert

A Chinese woman has been showered with praise online for giving first aid to a dehydrated camel in an Inner Mongolian desert.
Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A video posted online shows Haier helping the collapsed camel by giving it water. Photo: Douyin

Native to Inner Mongolia, the Bactrian camel can live up to 40 years and weigh as much as 600kg. Photo: Shutterstock 

News

People & Culture

Couple use ‘small change swap’ trick to scam market traders, police find genuine banknotes worth US$28,000, ink, paper cutters at their home


Couple use ‘small change swap’ trick to scam market traders, police find genuine banknotes worth US$28,000, ink, paper cutters at their home.


Crime in China

‘Shameless’ China couple arrested for printing fake banknotes, using them at local markets

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Couple use ‘small change swap’ trick to scam market traders, police find genuine banknotes worth US$28,000, ink, paper cutters at their home

Couple use ‘small change swap’ trick to scam market traders, police find genuine banknotes worth US$28,000, ink, paper cutters at their home