According to the South China Morning Post, the woman, identified only by her surname, Tang, and unmarried and childless, began following the influencer on a live-streaming platform in 2021.
The man claimed to assist struggling farmers and help lost people find their homes on his channel.
Touched by his apparent “kindness,” Tang initially sent small gifts during his streams and later purchased illegitimate health products he promoted.
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A person recording content in front of a smartphone. Illustration by Pexels |
The scam escalated when the man, identified as Mao from Shaanxi Province, added Tang’s personal contact and began calling her “Mom.” He contacted her daily and soon began borrowing money using fabricated excuses. She even borrowed money herself to send him, accruing 70,000 yuan in debt.
Despite her relatives urging her to report him to the police, Tang initially resisted but grew suspicious when his contact with her decreased. He eventually asked her to stop reaching out, telling her: “You don’t trust me.”
In late 2023 she reported the scam to the police. Investigators discovered Mao had used four separate accounts with different identities to deceive her. A photo Tang had taken of his car’s registration plate during a visit helped lead to his arrest. The Shanghai police apprehended Mao, who was convicted of fraud, sentenced to 10.5 years in prison and fined 100,000 yuan.
The woman, who survives on a 4,000-yuan monthly pension, continues to pay off her debts but declined the court’s offer to help her apply for judicial assistance, according to China Central Television. Her niece, Jiang, revealed that Tang had lost 10 kilograms in six months, feeling ashamed of being scammed.
The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly Internet users in China, where 20.8% of the 1.1 billion internet users are aged 60 or more.
Judge Yu, who presided over the case, emphasized the importance of addressing the emotional needs of elderly parents to prevent such incidents.