A WOMAN IN CHINA AND HER ACCOMPLICES HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ORCHESTRATING A MARRIAGE SCAM RO DEFRAUD HER HUSBAND. (PHOTO).

 A woman in China and her accomplices have been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a marriage scam to defraud her husband. 

The plan involved accusing the husband of visiting a prostitute, allowing the woman to file for divorce and keep the bride price – a traditional payment in China often exceeding 100,000 yuan ($13,700). The case took place in Longli County, Guizhou Province, and was reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The woman, identified as Ms. Xiong, and her boyfriend, Mr. Li, were in debt earlier this year when they sought financial help online. They met two men who suggested the fraudulent scheme. The men explained that by framing the groom, Ms. Xiong could secure a divorce without returning the bride price. Initially hesitant, Ms. Xiong agreed after being persuaded by her boyfriend and the men.

Ms. Xiong later met Mr. Bao, a prospective groom, through a matchmaking agency. After a brief courtship, they married, and Mr. Bao paid a bride price of 136,666 yuan and spent an additional 48,000 yuan on jewelry for Ms. Xiong. However, the plan unraveled when Mr. Bao met Mr. Li, who pretended to be Ms. Xiong’s cousin and tried to trick him into visiting a prostitute. Suspicious of the situation, Mr. Bao called the police, who intervened and stopped the scam.

The court sentenced Ms. Xiong, Mr. Li, and their two accomplices to prison terms ranging from three years to three years and 10 months. They were also ordered to compensate Mr. Bao with amounts between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan each. The case has highlighted the risks associated with fraudulent marriage schemes and the importance of vigilance in such situations.