Man arrested after posting 'fake' fraud claims about himself due to 'boredom'

A Chinese citizen, frustrated with his mundane daily life, was recently arrested for posting a fake arrest warrant on social media, accusing himself of defrauding millions of yuan.

According to media reports, the man, identified only by his surname Wang, hails from northern China. He posted a fabricated "wanted order" on social media, falsely attributing various crimes to himself.

In his post, Wang impersonated Chinese star Wang Yibo, an actor and dancer, claiming,

"I am a native of Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province. I extorted 30 million yuan ($4 million) from a company on November 10, 2024. I possess a submachine gun and 500 bullets. If you find me, you will be rewarded 30,000 yuan ($4,000)."

The post caught the attention of local police on November 12, prompting a search that ultimately led to Wang’s arrest.

Authorities discovered that Wang had made up the story out of boredom, fabricating allegations of extortion and possession of firearms in an attempt to spark some excitement in his life.

Wang’s post went viral, amassing 350,000 views, 2,500 likes, and 1,155 shares.

Speaking to the media, Wang admitted his actions were a result of his boredom and described the post as a "foolish attempt" to entertain himself.

However, the prank came at a cost. Wang’s actions led to legal repercussions, with authorities imposing restrictions on his movement for a specified period.