A late-night search for companionship has left a man in Nanyang, Henan, China, with losses of more than RM218,000 after he was allegedly drawn into a sophisticated online scam promising dating services and cash rebates.
Police in Nanyang disclosed the case on August 23, saying the man, identified as Wang, became trapped in a series of fraudulent transactions after clicking on a pop-up advertisement while browsing an adult website at around 1am on July 8.
The advertisement allegedly promoted local dating services. After Wang clicked on the link, he was directed to download an unfamiliar app, where a person claiming to be a “dating assistant” contacted him and told him he could unlock an escort service by becoming a VIP member and completing online tasks.
Wang was subsequently added to a group chat filled with fake withdrawal screenshots and supposed earnings, creating the impression that other users were making easy profits. He initially paid 28 yuan (about RM17) for VIP membership and was instructed to complete several tasks.
The first two tasks reportedly went smoothly, with Wang receiving rebates as promised. This apparently convinced him that the platform was genuine and lowered his guard.
However, trouble began when he attempted to withdraw money after completing the third task. His account was suddenly shown as frozen. A supposed financial assistant then claimed Wang had made an “operational error” and needed to deposit 68,000 yuan (about RM40,000) to unlock the account.
When Wang said he did not have enough money, he was allegedly transferred to another person described as a “funding specialist”. The individual instructed him to take out loans through platforms including Douyin, Alipay and Zhongyuan Bank.
The scammers then reportedly guided Wang through video calls and persuaded him to make five separate transfers totalling 36,000 yuan (about RM21,000). The demands did not stop there, with another 98,000 yuan (about RM58,000) allegedly requested to activate a larger withdrawal limit.
After making the payment, Wang was directed back to the supposed dating assistant, who claimed that another mistake had been made. He was then told to pay another 98,000 yuan. Even after completing the additional payment, Wang was still unable to withdraw his money.
Realising he had been deceived, Wang finally contacted the police. His total reported loss came to 218,399.20 yuan, equivalent to roughly RM130,000 based on current exchange rates.
Police from the Wolong district launched an investigation and traced the stolen funds across several regions, including Inner Mongolia, Yunnan and Anhui. With assistance from local authorities, more than 130,000 yuan of the lost funds had reportedly been recovered by August 18.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Police also warned that scams using fake dating or adult-content advertisements often follow a similar pattern: victims are first lured through attractive offers before being persuaded to download fraudulent apps and join chat groups filled with fake success stories.
Scammers may initially allow victims to make small profits before suddenly claiming that their accounts have been frozen because of a “system error”, “incorrect data” or “operational mistake”. Victims are then pressured into making increasingly larger payments in an attempt to recover the money they have already put in.
Authorities urged members of the public not to download unfamiliar apps or transfer money simply because an online platform promises dating services, rebates or quick profits. Anyone who suspects they have fallen victim to such a scam should contact the police immediately.
