Matchmaker cons desperate Chinese brides

Chaoyang prosecutors confirmed Wednesday they have indicted a man who allegedly defrauded a number of middle-aged women by claiming he could arrange for them to marry a foreigner.

Liu Xiaopeng, the accused, cheated over 20 women out of over 870,000 yuan ($139,712). He was in charge of a company since 2006, the name of which was not given, which organized matches between Chinese women and American and Canadian men. It also helped to organize visas after a successful introduction.

Zhang Jian, media officer with Chaoyang district procuratorate, said it is the first time they have dealt with a foreign marriage fraud case.

"It's still being processed. We first proposed prosecution on October 18, 2012. At that time, 19 female victims were involved while later several more victims emerged," Zhang told the Global Times Wednesday.

According to Chaoyang prosecutors, Liu's organization registered its clients on two American dating websites to help clients find suitable partners and participated in the later chat and e-mail exchanges.

"After it set up couples to get married in China, the organization helped clients prepare visa materials," wrote prosecutor Li Xiaojuan in a press release. It is unknown how many successful matches Liu made.

The fraud started in earnest after business became sluggish in 2009. The most difficult time was 2010 and 2011 when the success rates dropped sharply.

"The economic crisis was the main reason for the decline. Foreigners' incomes declined and they couldn't acts as guarantors for the women, so we couldn't arrange visas," said Liu.

Though unable to help clients with immigration, Liu still contracted with another 13 women in 2011.

"I really had no money to support the company's operation. So I left [Beijing] on June 29, 2011. I didn't notify any client because I couldn't refund their money," said Liu.

Liu charged each client from 10,000 yuan to 70,000 yuan according to their appearance and age.

"For those who were younger and prettier, it was easier to set a marriage up. So I charged them less. The fee includes the consultation, translation and service charge," said Liu.

Most of the victims are aged between 38 to 60, who were divorced and had children. They did not have a permanent income or relationship, and had heard that families could obtain permanent residence overseas by marrying a foreigner, according to Chaoyang prosecutors.

"They're willing to leave the country, swallow the hardship of the language barrier, and pay an expensive introduction fee, because they want to get either American or Canadian citizenship or send their children abroad," wrote Li in the press release, after he spoke with the victims.

One victim, surnamed Wang, 52, without a permanent job and who only had basic English skills, was cheated out of 30,000 yuan.

Wang went to Liu in May 2010 because she wanted her children to have a better future. Liu promised that she could be married in under 18 months. Wang finally received a picture of a foreign man on June 20, 2011, and she paid Liu 20,000 yuan on June 29, 2011, the same day he fled Beijing to return to his hometown. It is not known where Liu is from or where he was finally arrested.

Liu Hong, from Haiyan International Marriage Website, said they have clients aged from 20 to 70.

"We find them middle-class men in Western developed countries. We only charge people 15,000 yuan totally, cheaper than other intermediary companies," said Liu, adding that their success rate is high.

Qi Lianfeng, lawyer with Yinke Law Firm, said that more and more criminal cases involving foreign marriage have appeared in recent years.

"It's because people's demand for marriage to a foreigner has increased. People want to gain illegal profits from them," said Qi.

"Some illegal intermediary companies cheat people out of cash, while some make use of foreign marriage and send women abroad as prostitutes," he said.

"I personally received a call two days ago from someone who said that he is from a foreign marriage intermediary company. He asked me whether I have goods [girls]," he said.

People should be more careful and should not seek to marry foreigners blindly, noted Qi.