Brides for Hire: hundreds of men duped in China’s marriage scam

Police in southwestern China are investigating a massive matchmaking scam that has duped hundreds of men seeking brides, with victims losing up to 300 000 yuan ($55 587) in marriages that lasted mere days or weeks before ending in divorce.

The scam typically involves women who promise prospective husbands a quick path to marriage. These women, often divorced and financially vulnerable, are exploited by the matchmaking companies.

For Liao, a man from Hubei province, the experience was a harrowing ordeal. He traveled to Guiyang to meet a prospective bride arranged by a matchmaking company. Within 48 hours, they had registered their marriage and Liao had handed over $17 134 as a gift to his new bride’s family.

Liao’s wife repeatedly abandoned their hometown for Guiyang, demanding lavish purchases. However, Liao soon uncovered a web of deceit: his wife had concealed her past, including being a mother of five.

A former employee of a matchmaking company revealed the staggering scale of the scam. The company would receive 40 to 50 male clients daily, all seeking dates. Despite police investigations, some companies evaded detection by relocating to neighboring Yunnan province.

According to a court statement, authorities in Guiyang, Guizhou province, have received at least 180 fraud-related complaints against matchmaking companies since March 2023. This surge in complaints highlights the growing concern over matchmaking scams in China.