China baker asked to hide US$2,800 inside cake as surprise at engagement party celebration tricked into dirty money scam
- China cash-in-cake trend sees deluge of videos hit social media
- Baker’s bank account frozen, police launch crime proceeds probe
The story of a bakery shop owner in China who became unwittingly embroiled in a dirty money racket after making a cake for a customer with 20,000 yuan (US$2,800) hidden inside it, has sparked much interest online.
Ordering a “money-hiding cake” is a popular way to present gifts on special occasions in China, social media is filled with videos showing recipients joyfully pulling out cash like tissues from a box.
However, the seemingly innocuous trend has landed a cake shop owner, surnamed Zhang, from Leling in Shandong province, eastern China, in hot water.
Zhang took an order through WeChat which asked him to embed the money inside a cake as a surprise at an engagement party.
Aware of the trend’s popularity and having previously received similar requests, Zhang initially had no suspicions and charged the customer for an eight-inch cake as requested.
Screenshots of their WeChat conversation showed the customer making the inquiry: “If I transfer 20,000 yuan to you, can you withdraw the money in cash for me? I’m currently busy.”