Finding love online is like finding a needle in a haystack. And we are not saying that it is impossible, but you could run into several problems along the way or, rather, with more than one scammer without scruples or a sense of romance.
This was the case of 39 Chinese women who fell into the networks of He Gansheng, a subject who used three different identities to obtain money from women between 20 and 30 years of age.
According to authorities, He Gansheng, 38, lived with his wife and children in Hubei, China. His life seemed normal, but he used his spare time to swindle women in their 20s and 30s, whom he led to believe that he was an attractive and successful professional.
The false identities the man used included a doctor in Shanghai, a lawyer in Shenzhen and a doctoral student in Beijing. Also, he would have sent selfie photos of two attractive South Korean men, which she downloaded online.
After enticing victims with their fake photos, the subject would ask them for some “borrowed” money to pay off their home loans, credit cards, and other personal expenses. When the girls asked him to return the money, he made excuses or ended up blocking them on social media.
From 2016 to 2020, Gansheng managed to swindle 39 women, obtaining more than 78 thousand dollars. The authorities noted that none of the victims met this man in person, but all believed his promises, feeling that they really had a long-distance relationship.
Gansheng’s acts were exposed when his latest victim, a 22-year-old woman, reported him to authorities after he stole her life savings.
After a lengthy investigation, the scammer was arrested by the police. He Gansheng was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, as well as a fine of 30,000 yuan ($4,250).
The events occurred in 2021, but the case was revealed in early October 2022, after an article was published online.