In Guangzhou’s Liwan District, two brothers and two female friends were separately defrauded of nearly 150,000 RMB by two women posing as single partners seeking marriage. Police arrested the suspects—both already married—in a mountainous area.

Social Context

Romance scams targeting men through dating apps have spiked in Guangdong, exploiting cultural pressure to marry and distrust of formal matchmaking. The MPS’s 2023 ‘Clear Net–Love Trap’ campaign prioritizes cross-provincial coordination to track fugitives hiding in remote regions, while new regulations require ID verification for all dating app users.

Safety Tip

Verify marital status via official household registration (hukou) inquiries before financial exchanges; report suspicious profiles to the Cybersecurity Bureau via the ‘Cyber Police’ WeChat mini-program.