- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 29 Nov 2025 02:42 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Shanghai Fraud Case: In a case that has sparked intense debate across China, police in Shanghai have arrested a 36-year-old homeless man who allegedly lived a brief but extravagant life by pretending to be a wealthy nightclub owner and tricking women into paying for his high-end outings.
The suspect, identified only by his surname Chen, is accused of defrauding at least five women over a span of ten days, according to a detailed report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
How The Scam Began
According to the South China Morning Post, the fraud surfaced in August when a woman using the alias Liu Qian approached officers in Putuo District. She told investigators that Chen had hired her as a local guide, promising to pay her 3,500 yuan in cash after an evening of dinner and entertainment venues. The following day, Chen arrived at her apartment carrying a black plastic bag. Inside was what looked like 50,000 to 60,000 yuan.
He told her the money needed to be placed under her bed for “feng shui” reasons and assured her there was more than enough to settle her payment and cover their upcoming expenses. But when Chen stepped outside to “take a call”, curiosity got the better of her. She opened the bag and realised the stash consisted almost entirely of training notes used by bank tellers for practice, with only a few real bills tucked on the top and bottom.
Police soon discovered that Liu’s complaint was not an isolated incident. Investigators found that Chen had been frequenting upscale restaurants, hotel lounges, and night-time entertainment spots across Shanghai. Each time, he was accompanied by a different woman. Officers learnt that the women willingly paid for meals, expensive drinks, taxis, and hotel stays, believing Chen to be affluent. They had all seen what looked like thick bundles of cash, enough to silence suspicion. By the time they discovered the truth, Chen had already disappeared.
Fake Job Ads And Prop Money
As reported by SCMP, Chen carefully crafted an online persona to lure victims. Using a secondary account, he posed as an agent in chat groups and advertised “high-paying companionship” jobs. When meeting women in person, he theatrically revealed stacks of prop money, placing real bills on the top and bottom to give the illusion of authenticity. The bundles were positioned deliberately, within sight but always untouched until he found an excuse to leave.
Police also found that Chen slept on park benches on nights when he failed to find new victims, resuming his search the next morning. Even the clothes he wore and the latest smartphone he flaunted were purchased using funds provided by the women he targeted.
Authorities confirmed that Chen defrauded at least five women before the scheme collapsed. He has been formally arrested on charges of fraud, and officials continue to look for potential additional victims.
The bizarre case, widely circulated on Chinese social media platforms, has drawn thousands of comments, with many netizens expressing disbelief at both the scammer’s audacity and the ease with which he manipulated appearances.