A young man was arrested in China after he bragged about a handsome cash gift worth 180 million yuan (US$25 million) from his grandmother for his birthday, only to later discover that he had fabricated the entire story.
On October 5, the man was exposed for displaying luxury cars, jewelry, and antiques on his Douyin account @dongdonganan. He also commented on another user’s post, claiming that his grandmother gave him 180 million yuan for his 20th birthday.
Facing others’ skepticism, he posted a screenshot of his bank account, which allegedly showed savings worth 2.4 billion yuan (US$335 million).
In addition, he shared an appointment letter for a senior family member supposedly issued by China’s State Council and an old group photo of officials from the People’s Liberation Army, implying that a relative holds a prestigious position.
On October 31, internet police in southwestern China’s Guizhou Province revealed that the man, surnamed Tian, had fabricated his wealth and manipulated photos to gain followers and profit from online gambling. Authorities stated that he was detained on charges of disturbing public order and cyberspace systems while participating in online gambling activities.
Despite Tian’s deception, comments on his posts reflected broader societal frustration regarding wealth inequality in China.
