Emotional deceit: Influencer scams senior citizen out of Rs 62 Lakh

Viral news: Mao, who had 42,000 followers, initially gained Tang's trust via live streams where he showcased himself as a philanthropist helping rural farmers and the needy. Tang, a 70-year-old unmarried and childless woman, began by sending him small gifts. This escalated in 2021 when Mao convinced Tang to buy illegitimate health products and later added her personal contact, addressing her as "mum."

Emotional manipulation and financial exploitation

Mao invented tear-jerking stories, telling her that he had stomach cancer, was coping with his girlfriend's abortion, and was caring for a terminally ill father. Tang, feeling sympathetic to his apparent love for her, even borrowed money to satisfy his demands. When relatives began to suspect and confronted her, she first refused to have the police intervene, fearing betrayal by her "son."

The breaking point

When Mao's letters started dwindling, Tang started doubting him. In order to keep the trust intact with her, Mao drove over 1,000 kilometers to meet her, recording the meeting in videos that glorified a mother's love. Weeks later, he stopped communicating and accused her of not trusting him. Tang reported the case to the police in late 2023, and Mao was arrested.

Legal outcome

The authorities eventually discovered Mao's fraudulent activities, including the fact that he had four accounts under different fictitious names. Mao was found guilty of deceiving Tang and was sentenced to more than ten years in prison and a fine of 100,000 yuan (US$14,000). The court gave a heavier sentence because Mao had specifically targeted an elderly person.

A cautionary tale for elderly internet users

It showcases how the older age group on the internet can easily fall into scamming traps. As 20.8% of internet users are aged 60 and above, this threat has been ongoing for a while in China. While delivering judgment, Judge Yu Huohai insisted that influencers needed better supervision, and emotional support for elderly persons was important.