A former Shanghai nightclub sales manager has received a 12-year prison sentence and a substantial fine after the Putuo District People’s Court found him guilty of operating an elaborate romance fraud that bilked two professional women out of more than 10 million yuan (approximately HK$11.03 million). The convicted man, identified by the pseudonym Han Xing, 26, was found to have funneled the stolen funds primarily toward covering significant personal gambling debts. The court’s ruling and sentencing were reported by mainland media on Thursday, concluding a case that highlighted the devastating personal and financial toll of online affection scams.
Deception Fueled by Debt and Duplicity
The investigation revealed that Han, despite reportedly earning a sizable monthly salary between 300,000 and 400,000 yuan, faced crippling financial pressures from online gambling losses. To bridge this gap, he targeted professional women. Two years ago, Han initiated a romantic relationship with a 46-year-old construction firm executive, identified only as Xu, after meeting her at the nightclub where he worked.
Han actively pursued Xu, quickly establishing a relationship built on trust. He then began systematically requesting large sums of money under various false pretenses, including claims of a mother’s fabricated illness. Over the course of their relationship, Xu lent Han more than 9 million yuan (around HK$9.93 million), none of which was ever repaid. The deception was so convincing that Xu reportedly signed a letter of understanding, believing their romantic bond was legitimate.
The Multi-Victim Scheme
Simultaneously, Han engaged in a separate relationship with a 47-year-old woman identified as Lu, a long-term resident of Singapore. Han also convinced Lu to loan him significant amounts of money. Investigators determined that some of the funds acquired from Lu were deceitfully recycled to make small repayments to Xu, a tactic often employed to maintain the illusion of financial probity and keep both victims invested in the continuing relationship and loans.
The scheme unraveled when Lu grew suspicious of Han’s activities and reported her concerns to the authorities. Han was arrested late last year. Forensic financial analysis confirmed that the vast majority of the illicitly obtained funds—the 10 million yuan total—had been funneled directly into covering his mounting gambling losses, confirming the motive behind the sophisticated fraud.
Legal Consequences and Financial Recourse
The Shanghai court imposed the 12-year prison sentence and a fine of 200,000 yuan, underscoring the severity of the financial crime. The court emphasized that such romance fraud schemes represent a significant breach of trust and cause profound emotional and economic distress to victims.
This case serves as a critical warning regarding the rapid escalation of online and in-person romance scams, particularly those targeting vulnerable individuals with significant financial resources. Authorities consistently advise the public to exercise extreme caution when money, especially large sums or loans, is requested by a new romantic partner, regardless of their perceived professional standing. The focus now shifts to the recovery of the levied fines and the potential for a civil recovery of the millions defrauded from the two victims.