Shanghai man sentenced to 10 years for defrauding a couple of US$103,000 by selling a vacant flat he didn't own, after changing locks. Fined US$15,000.
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A man in eastern China has been sentenced to prison after cheating long-time friends out of more than 700,000 yuan, approximately US$103,000, by pretending to sell them an apartment that did not belong to him.
The man, surnamed Sun, was a Shanghai resident who had previously owned two shops that later closed. According to mainland media outlet Xinmin Evening News, Sun also had a prior conviction for fraud and had served time in prison.
After his release in 2017, a migrant worker couple who had known him for nearly 30 years continued to support him. Although their own financial situation was limited, they regularly provided him with food, money, and emotional encouragement.
Sun reportedly told the couple that he was grateful for their kindness and promised to repay them one day.
To the couple, Sun appeared trustworthy and capable. He was a local Shanghai resident, had once owned retail properties, and falsely claimed that a relative working on a village committee had useful connections.
When the couple later asked him for help finding an affordable home, Sun took advantage of their wish to settle permanently in Shanghai. He claimed that he could help them obtain a discounted property.
Beginning in 2023, Sun received more than 700,000 yuan from the couple, telling them the money was needed for housing payments and related loans that would later be deducted from the final purchase price.
Two years later, he claimed he had found a relocation flat for them, but demanded an additional 400,000 yuan to complete the transaction.
In reality, the apartment did not belong to him. Sun had found a vacant unit in a resettlement housing estate. The real owner, surnamed Wang, had left the flat empty for more than three months while an agent searched for tenants.
Sun then hired a locksmith, falsely saying he had lost the keys, and had the lock changed without proving ownership. After that, he brought the couple to view the flat, gave them the new keys, and signed a fake sales agreement with them.
The scheme was exposed in May 2025, when Wang arrived at the apartment with a potential tenant and discovered that his key no longer worked. Surveillance footage later showed that the lock had been replaced, leading Wang to report the matter to police.
After being arrested, Sun admitted that he had already used the money to pay debts and cover daily expenses, making it difficult for the couple to recover their losses.
The couple had not yet paid the remaining balance, but their total loss still exceeded 700,000 yuan. They had not made any public statement at the time of publication.
A local court recently sentenced Sun to 10 years and three months in prison for fraud and fined him 100,000 yuan, around US$15,000. It is not yet clear whether the locksmith involved in changing the lock faced any legal consequences.
The case drew strong reactions online, with many people expressing sympathy for the couple and warning others to be careful when buying property through informal arrangements.
Some commenters said the couple may have trusted Sun because of their long friendship and failed to properly check the ownership certificate. Others criticized Sun for betraying people who had helped him for years.
The case also served as a reminder that property transactions should always go through official channels. Buyers are advised to verify ownership documents carefully and avoid relying solely on personal connections or verbal promises.
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