A YOUNG man was recently prosecuted in Shenzhen for allegedly swindling 41 victims out of 9.8 million yuan (US$1.45 million), Chinese-language media reported yesterday.

The man in his 20s, identified by his family name Sun, called himself Qibao and allegedly pretended to be an air stewardess on his WeChat account. Sun claimed to be a staffer at a so-called “International Airline Association” and told people who wanted to befriend him on WeChat that there were many opportunities to get flights for members of the association.

The first victim, identified as Ah Zhou, was notified about winning a free trip to Phuket Island in Thailand, not long after registering as a member of the association under Sun’s instruction. Ah Zhou was required to pay a deposit of 30,000 yuan to a designated bank account, which would be returned after the trip, based on the rules.

Ah Zhou paid the deposit and successfully reclaimed her deposit after the trip. Later, the victim was offered another free trip with her friends and their deposits were all returned.

After going on several free trips like this, the victim, as well as her friends and family, trusted Sun. Sun then introduced them other “special offers.” For example, Sun told them that they could get 10 free Apple mobile phones after paying a deposit, and Sun again fulfilled his promise of delivering iPhones and refunding their deposits.

After earning their trust, Sun began to swindle Ah Zhou and her friends and relatives with more “special offers.” He used various excuses to delay the delivery of mobile phones and tablet computers, and kept the deposits.

Last March, Sun turned himself in to the police. Sun said he was unemployed and made up all of the stories. All of the free gifts had been paid for by Sun, so he would cover the expenses with money that he would later swindle from others.

Sun said he had once been cheated out of 2 million yuan online, which he had borrowed from relatives while he was in college. (Wang Jingli)