appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Alice Yan

A man in China has been jailed for 13 years for cheating more than 20 people, including five of his divorced wives, out of a total of two million yuan (US$280,000).
The 39-year-old man, known as Liu, got married and divorced between 2009 and 2024 with six different women.
The last five of them, and their families, were swindled out of money by him, state media CCTV reported.
A court in Ziyang, Sichuan province, southwestern China, recently sentenced Liu to jail for fraud.
Each of the marriages he embarked on lasted for less than two years, the court heard.

Liu was accused of setting up the public persona of a rich businessman who showed consideration for women.
He often shared photographs of luxury cars he drove on social media; the vehicles were actually rented.
However, after women started dating him, Liu used various excuses to borrow money from them, such as paying his employees’ salaries, expanding his toy store and buying a house.
Once he faked a medical document to show his mother was ill to persuade his girlfriend to lend him money.
When his victims asked him to repay the money, Liu simply said he needed more time.

“He is good at comforting girls and he has a good temperament. That is why I was attracted to him although I knew he had vorced,” o one of his ex-wives told the police.
“The first impression Liu left for me was that he was wealthy and honest. I did not expect that he was a fraudster,” another ex-wife said, adding: “I regret lending him more than 400,000 yuan (US$56,000).”
In 2021, Liu was classified by a court as a defaulter after his then-girlfriend sued him for not returning her more than 320,000 yuan (US$45,000). But he still refused to repay her the money.
“Since then, Liu continued to borrow plenty of money from many people. He never returned money. His actions obviously had the purpose of illegal possession, so he has constituted the crime of fraud,” a police officer was quoted as saying.
Liu’s racket was exposed at the end of 2023 when his sixth wife, nicknamed Xiaolu, reported him to the police after he defaulted on her and her family a combined 600,000 yuan (US$84,000).
They registered their marriage in June 2023, only two weeks after they got to know each other.
After they wed, Liu tried every means, including using a knife to hurt himself, to cajole Xiaolu into giving him money.
Liu persuaded Xiaolu to mortgage her own flat, but he took away all the money borrowed from the bank.

She followed his suggestion of quitting her decent job since he said he needed a “reliable” person to manage his to-be-expanded store.
Due to the fact that Liu was blacklisted by the banks, he told Xiaolu to borrow money from online platforms.
He even borrowed money from her parents and her grandmother by telling them not to reveal this to Xiaolu because he did not want his pregnant wife to worry.
“I was cheated by him and have lost my flat and my job and became pregnant. I am under a big amount of debt because of him. I really would like to commit suicide,” Xiaolu told officers.
Liu confessed his crime and told investigators: “I want to seek revenge on women. They are not trustworthy and too materialistic,” he said.
If you have suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.


Chinese son kowtows to adoptive mum, thanking her for funding medical bills by driving cabs

63kg Chinese man believes online products could help with weight gain loses 6.5kg instead

Discovery of ancient Chinese anaesthesia reveals advanced early surgical practices

Chinese woman reunites with family 22 years after running away over broken shower gel bottle

Trending in China

Chinese man, married, divorced 6 times, cons partners out of US$280,000, gets 13 years jail

A Chinese man who married and divorced six times in 15 years and scammed his partners out of a total of US$280,000, claimed he did so as an act of revenge against women. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Fraudster Liu charmed many women into marriage, then set about defrauding them. Photo: Shutterstock

None of the marriages Liu entered into lasted more than two years. Photo: Shutterstock

A court in southwestern China recently sentenced Liu to 13 years in jail for fraud. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese woman dates 20 men, asks for iPhones, sells them to fund property down payment

A woman in China dated 20 men simultaneously, asking each for an iPhone before selling the gadgets to make a down payment on a flat. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The woman asked each of the men she dated for an iPhone, then sold the gadgets online. Photo: Shutterstock

The outwardly unassuming woman’s work colleagues were shocked by the fact that she was able to date 20 men at the same time. Photo: Shutterstock

The woman, who worked as a lowly company clerk, used the money she made from selling the phones to make a down payment on a flat. Photo: Shutterstock

Masked China singer with 22 million online fans puts pioneering first concert on hold

A hugely popular 20-year-old singer in China, who conceals her identity by wearing a mask, is to make history by staging a concert first. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Weibo

The 20-year-old singer performs on stage in a stunning and elaborate silver mask. Photo: Baidu

The singer also dons a cartoon mask on stage and has never revealed her true identity. Photo: Baidu

Public concern that the mystery performer may pretend to be singing has prompted the event’s organiser to issue a reassuring statement. Photo: Baidu

China siblings fight over dad’s US$420,000 inheritance, discover neither is biological child

Two siblings in China who were fighting over a US$420,000 inheritance in court inadvertently discovered that neither of them was the biological child of their dead parents. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sohu

The siblings, both of whom were adopted, were locked in battle over a residential property. Photo: AFP

A court in northern China dealt with the case, which has caused much discussion on mainland social media. Photo: Getty Images

Despite modern-day changes to China’s legal framework on inheritance, deeply ingrained cultural norms often lead to male heirs being favoured. Photo: Shutterstock 

China pancake seller in US on US$20,000 a month arrested for unlicensed stall amid turf war

A Chinese man who sells savoury pancakes in the United States has been arrested for operating without a business licence amid a turf dispute with a rival vendor. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin 

Immigration agents swooped to arrest Tang in Los Angeles on July 19. Photo: Douyin

Tang rolls dough at his stall in Los Angeles. One American customer described his fare as “amazing Chinese pizza”. Photo: Douyin

The businessman chops up pancakes. He says he hopes to resume his work after the case is settled. Photo: Douyin

China mum wraps baby’s index finger to stop ‘unhygienic’ sucking, leads to tissue damage

A Chinese mother wrapped- up her baby’s index finger to stop the child from sucking it and almost caused the digit to be amputated. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

Little Lele’s index finger became swollen and discoloured as a result of her mother wrapping it up. Photo: Sina

Doctors say it is perfectly normal for infants to suck on their fingers. Photo: Shutterstock.

Medical experts say the mothers of young babies should seek professional advice if they are worried about their child and avoid following random tips given online. Photo: Shutterstock

News

People & Culture

‘Considerate’ con man preyed on the emotions of women to fleece them and faked medical documents to get them to part with cash


‘Considerate’ con man preyed on the emotions of women to fleece them and faked medical documents to get them to part with cash.


Scams and swindles

Chinese man, married, divorced 6 times, cons partners out of US$280,000, gets 13 years jail

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘Considerate’ con man preyed on the emotions of women to fleece them and faked medical documents to get them to part with cash

‘Considerate’ con man preyed on the emotions of women to fleece them and faked medical documents to get them to part with cash