Woman sentenced for staging fake wedding to defraud relatives in Shanghai

A woman in Shanghai staged a fake wedding to scam her relatives out of 12 million yuan (US$1.6 million) by promising discounted properties. She convinced a man to pose as her wealthy husband to gain their trust. Meng's scheme began after her real estate agency collapsed in 2014. She sold a flat to her cousin at half price and misled relatives about securing further discounts on properties, leading them to sell their homes. The scam was uncovered when a victim checked with a property developer and discovered the truth. Meng was sentenced to 12 years and six months for fraud, while her accomplice received six years.