Groom in China duped of Rs 55 lakh in wedding scam by bride and her fake family

Picture this: a dream wedding turned into a nightmare so dramatic it could be the plot of a thriller. A Chinese man, identified as Shin from Hubei province, thought he¡¯d found love when he met Shaoyu through a wedding planning service. Little did he know, the romance was just the opening act of a meticulously crafted scam.

The couple¡¯s love story started online

The duo¡¯s love story began online, blooming through daily chats and phone calls. Shaoyu, claiming to follow "traditional customs," soon started making financial demands. First, it was Rs 22 lakh as a ¡°bride price,¡± followed by additional amounts for gifts and her mother¡¯s medical expenses. Over the span of a year, Shin shelled out a jaw-dropping Rs 55 lakh, convinced by her reassurances, filtered photos, and occasional sweet words.

The girl catfished him

But things began to unravel when the families finally met in person. Shin was startled to see Shaoyu in the flesh, looking nothing like the pictures she¡¯d sent. Her excuse? Filters, she said. Suspicious but still invested in his dream wedding, Shin continued to fund the relationship.

The drama before the D-day

The real drama kicked in when Shin spotted suspicious messages on Shaoyu¡¯s phone. Confronted, she played the "hacked phone" card, dodging his questions. Then, the plot thickened. Shaoyu¡¯s supposed sister contacted Shin, suggesting they end the relationship. By now, Shin¡¯s red flags had turned neon.

In a twist straight out of a Bollywood drama, Shin launched his own investigation and discovered the ugly truth: the so-called sister and Shaoyu were the same person. But that wasn¡¯t even the worst of it. Shaoyu¡¯s entire family was in on the scam, a criminal ring operating with hired actors posing as relatives. To add insult to injury, Shaoyu herself was already married with a child.

The groom was just another target for the bride

Realizing he was just another target in their elaborate con, Shin reported the scam to local authorities. Police confirmed the involvement of a well-organized criminal network exploiting people searching for love and marriage.

For Shin, this ¡°wedding¡± wasn¡¯t just costly¡ªit was a masterclass in deception that left him emotionally and financially drained. Let his story serve as a warning: when love seems too good to be true, it just might be.