Dubai, United Arab Emirates – A nine-year-old fraud case has resurfaced on Chinese social media following a recent scandal involving a man known as “Sister Hong” who posed as a woman and allegedly deceived hundreds of men. The new attention has prompted millions to revisit an earlier case that continues to spark widespread online discussion.
The earlier case involved a young woman who reportedly convinced 20 men to each gift her a new iPhone 7 over a six-month period. She then sold the devices online, collecting over 120,000 yuan (approximately USD 17,000), which she used as a down payment to purchase an apartment in her hometown.
According to a 2016 report by Qianjiang Evening News, the woman had been working as a junior employee at a company in Shenzhen with a modest salary. Her sudden announcement on social media that she had bought property surprised her colleagues, who later discovered the method she had used to raise the funds.
The woman reportedly maintained simultaneous romantic relationships with 20 men, each of whom gifted her a smartphone. She sold the devices to an electronics trading platform. A representative from the platform confirmed the transaction, noting that most of the phones were still sealed in their original packaging.
“We received an order from a woman who claimed to have 20 brand-new iPhone 7s. Most were unopened,” said an employee. “She earned more than 120,000 yuan in total from the sales.”
A female colleague expressed shock at the revelation: “We never imagined she was capable of this. She was cheerful and got along well with everyone. It came as a complete surprise.” Reports suggested the company was considering disciplinary action, but there is no public record of legal consequences.
Online users drew comparisons between this case and the recent “Sister Hong” incident. The latter involved a man who disguised himself as a woman, reportedly engaging in sexual encounters with over 1,000 men while secretly recording and distributing the videos. He was arrested in Jiangsu Province for disseminating obscene material, and investigations are ongoing.
Commentators described the older case as “more elaborate and calculated,” with one user calling it “a multitasking masterpiece.” The renewed interest in both stories highlights growing concerns about digital deception and emotional manipulation in the online age.
