Everything classified: ‘Military officer' steals his heart and ₹78 lakh; man scammed by top secret fiancée
Ji, in his 30s, worked at a car factory in Chengdu. In 2018, he met a woman online who introduced herself as 'Li Hua'. She claimed to be a military officer in the Armed Police Force.
They met only four or five times over eight years, mostly for lunch. Li convinced Ji and his parents that she was serious about marriage. She introduced them to her supposed family in Chishui, Guizhou. She said the marriage was almost fixed.
By 2020, they had taken wedding photos. Over time, Ji and his family gave her around 650,000 yuan ( ₹ 78 lakh). He believed it was for marriage preparations and family needs.
Eventually, Li vanished without a trace. Ji later realised he and his family had been scammed.
Li said she bought a four-bedroom flat and convinced Ji to pay for its renovation. Over time, she took more money from Ji and his family. She said it was for wedding expenses, raising pigs, her parents' illness and paying off debts.
Ji's farmer family gave away their savings. Li also told Ji not to share their photos online or ask questions. She said her identity was top secret.
'She kept saying everything was classified. Every time I asked about her personal details, she just told me they were confidential,' the South China Morning Post quoted Ji as saying.
However, she refused to show him her ID card and avoided any talk about visiting her hometown or fixing a wedding date. Ji later realised he had been tricked. He said he was too trusting and had believed everything she said. The woman disappeared and stopped all contact, leaving Ji in shock.
Ji went to check the flat she said she owned, but it was locked. Building staff confirmed no owner named Li Hua. Ji reported her to the police in January. A criminal case started in February.
Li is now missing and listed as wanted online. The news originally came out in Red Star News and caused a lot of talk on Chinese social media.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Who is Heston James? TikTok influencer arrested for viral pranks disrupting businesses
Police have arrested Heston Cobb, an Arizona based influencer, for disrupting local businesses through a series of pranks. Heston Cobb was arrested at his home on July 23.(X/@MAGAgeddon) Authorities said businesses in Tempe, Arizona, reported numerous instances of groups of men who entered their stores dressed as employees and then refused to leave when asked. Probing these incidents, cops found them linked to viral prank videos uploaded to social media by Cobb, who enjoys a 1.6 million-strong following on TikTok, People reported. Who is Heston Cobb? Heston Cobb or Heston James, as he's known to his followers, is a TikTok influencer. He was arrested at his home on July 23. Cobb was booked on one count of burglary, two counts of criminal impersonation, five counts of disorderly conduct and five counts of criminal trespass. Also Read | TikTok will go dark in US without Chinese approval of sale deal, says Howard Lutnick If Cobb gets the maximum punishment under Arizona law, he could be looking at up to nine years in jail and a fine of $315,000. What viral prank was Heston Cobb playing? Cobb, in a series of videos, from March to May, could be seen shrieking in various stores, then pretending not to know where the screams came from, when approached by staff. On July 4, he posted a TikTok video, where he claims to be an employee of a car mechanic shop. He says he's 'from corporate' and has gotten 'multiple complaints'. Then, a van full of men in jumpsuits enter the place of business and begin operating on cars there. 'These videos are definitely not pranks. They are crossing the line from something that's fun and playful into criminal territory. They're breaking laws,' Tempe Police Officer Jessica Ells said to AZFamily, adding, 'They are going into these businesses and impersonating the employees. That actually is a felony charge.' Pep Boys, Hyland Auto Repair, Big Brand Tire & Service, Jiffy Lube and Chipotle were among businesses impacted by Cobb's pranks. 'Hopefully this will put pressure on Instagram, YouTube, and all of the other platforms to really look at what people are posting,' Hyland Auto owner told the publication.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Outrage in China as thousands of private pictures of girls posted online
This is a representative AI image Beijing: Thousands of men allegedly shared intimate photos and videos of their girlfriends without consent on the Telegram app, Chinese media reported, sparking widespread outcry against secret filming and calls to better protect women. Pornography in China is illegal, and conservative social attitudes towards women remain the norm. It comes after a Chinese university expelled a woman student this month for "damaging national dignity" over videos posted by a Ukrainian esports player on Telegram suggesting they had been intimate. The Chinese state-owned Southern Daily reported this week a woman had discovered that photos of her taken unknowingly had been shared in a Telegram forum with over 100,000 users, mostly Chinese men. Members of the forum also shared photos of their girlfriends, ex-girlfriends and wives, according to a commentary in the Guangming Daily, an outlet backed by China's communist party. Revelations of the group have sparked widespread outcry online. "We can no longer remain silent. Because next could be me, or it could be you," read one comment on Instagram-like Red Note. A related hashtag has been viewed more than 230 million times on social media platform Weibo since Thursday. The largest group, called "Mask Park", has since been taken down, but smaller spinoffs remain active, according to reports. Chinese authorities have yet to publicly announce any action against the Telegram group. afp
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
'As Deep As the Sea': Modi's BIG 'Mahasagar' Diplomacy Message To China With Mega Maldives Deals
Thailand-Cambodia 'War' Intensifies; Soldiers Unleash Rockets, Machine Guns | Chilling Videos The second day of violence along the Thailand–Cambodia border has turned deadly, chaotic, and deeply tragic. Fresh explosions echoed through the Kap Choeng district in Thailand's Surin Province, where tanks, artillery, jets, and machine guns were unleashed with little restraint. A long-standing border dispute—dormant for more than a decade—has returned with terrifying force. Visuals from the frontlines show Cambodian troops—reportedly armed with Chinese Type 81 machine guns—engaging in brutal firefights with Thai forces. Drone strikes, multiple rocket launchers, and F-16 air sorties are now part of the daily escalation. Two ancient temples, previously symbols of shared culture, have become flashpoints of territorial control. The death toll in Thailand has risen to 14, including 13 civilians and one soldier, and over 100,000 people have fled their homes—making this the bloodiest flare-up since the 2008–2011 war that claimed 28 lives. 8.8K views | 8 hours ago
