In the city of Tianjin, a man lost a large sum of money while trying to fulfill an unusual request made by a woman during an online romance.
According to a report by South China Morning Post, police in Tianjin uncovered a fraud case involving a man named Wang, who was deceived by a woman named Li during an online romance.
Li had fabricated a story about her former husband and introduced Wang to a practice called “marriage bed burning.” She portrayed herself as a wealthy woman with several properties and explained that the “marriage bed burning” tradition was a necessary ritual for a happy marriage.
Li told Wang that she was ready to marry him, but first, they had to perform certain rituals to ensure a prosperous new life together. She claimed that all her wealth was inherited from her ex-husband and that performing the “marriage bed burning” ritual was essential to honor him.
Li asked Wang for 100,000 yuan to complete the ritual, explaining that it should be done in his absence, as his presence would bring bad luck and ruin the ceremony.
Wang believed her story and sent the money. However, after receiving the funds, Li disappeared, leaving Wang heartbroken and alone.
This incident in China is an example of the growing number of online romance scams, where individuals fall victim to false identities and deceitful claims, suffering both financial losses and emotional distress.
In many areas of China, superstitions and rituals still hold sway, and fraudsters take advantage of these beliefs to prey on innocent people who fall for fabricated stories in the name of love. Experts advise people to be cautious when engaging in online relationships, reminding them to verify identities, refrain from sharing personal information, and be wary when asked for money or other favors without thorough investigation.
