Love Scam Gone Wrong: Woman Tricks 36 Boyfriends into Buying Apartments

In a recent case from Shenzhen, China, a woman allegedly deceived 36 men by posing as their girlfriend and persuading them to purchase apartments in Huizhou, a city approximately 90 kilometers away. All the properties were situated in two residential complexes: Jiu Jing Tai and Hao Yi Shang Yuan.

One victim, known by the alias Atao, recounted meeting Liu Jia on a dating app in March of the previous year. He was quickly captivated by her demeanor, perceiving her as “tender, virtuous, family-oriented, and considerate.”

Liu, who claimed to be a 30-year-old from Hunan province working in Shenzhen’s e-commerce sector, introduced the topic of marriage after a month of dating. She insisted that Atao purchase a house before they could meet his parents or cohabit.

To further persuade him, she offered to contribute 30,000 yuan (approximately US$4,000) towards the down payment and recommended the aforementioned residential complexes in Huizhou, which were offering subsidies exceeding 100,000 yuan (around US$14,000) to potential buyers.

After Atao acquired the apartment, Liu declined to have her name added to the ownership certificate, became distant, and eventually ceased all communication. Another victim, surnamed Wang, shared a similar experience, stating that Liu became increasingly unavailable post-purchase, eventually blocking his calls and removing him from her contact list.

Atao later discovered that at least 36 men, all in their 30s and residing in Shenzhen, had fallen prey to the same scheme, each dating Liu for only one or two months. This ordeal has left Atao financially strained, managing a monthly home loan of 4,100 yuan (approximately US$560), alongside rent in Shenzhen and supporting his parents. He expressed his reluctance to pursue future relationships, admitting, “I dare not have a girlfriend now.”

This incident has ignited extensive discussions on Chinese social media platforms. Some users jested that Liu should be titled the “sales champion of a real estate developer,” while others criticized the men for their gullibility, remarking, “These men are too careless. They trusted a person whom they only knew for a month.”