The case sparks outrage on mainland social media, with many calling Sun conscienceless and ungrateful
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenZoey ZhangPublished: 9:00am, 26 Jun 2026A man in eastern China deceived long-time friends out of over 700,000 yuan (US$103,000) by changing the lock on a random vacant flat and posing as its owner to sell it to them.
Sun, a Shanghai resident who previously owned two shops that went out of business, had a history of serving time for fraud, according to the mainland media outlet Xinmin Evening News.
Following his release from prison in 2017, a married couple he had known for nearly three decades consistently provided him with meals, financial help, and emotional support, despite their own status as migrant workers with limited means in Shanghai.
Reportedly touched by their generosity, Sun vowed to repay them one day.
To the couple, Sun appeared to be well-connected and financially stable: he was a local from Shanghai who owned retail spaces and falsely asserted that a cousin on the village committee had significant connections.
When they sought his help in finding an affordable home, Sun took advantage of their desire to settle down by claiming access to discounted properties.
