FUZHOU, JIANGXI — A Chinese couple has been arrested for printing counterfeit banknotes and using them to scam over 1,000 unsuspecting market vendors across eastern China.
Police in Fuzhou reported that complaints of fake 100-yuan (US$14) notes surged in September 2023, with five separate vendors filing reports within one week — a significant jump from the usual one or two cases a month.
The suspects, identified by their surnames Xu and He, operated a sophisticated con in small, open-air markets. Their scheme involved an initial genuine purchase to gain the vendor’s trust, followed by a swap using a counterfeit bill during a staged change request. The sleight-of-hand deceived many vendors who only verified the first banknote.
Tracking the couple proved difficult due to limited CCTV coverage in rural markets and vague descriptions from victims. However, one surveillance camera captured the con in progress, helping investigators crack the case.
A raid on the couple’s residence revealed 15 counterfeit bills and the forgery equipment used — including printers, cutters, and ink — as well as over 200,000 yuan (US$28,000) in cash collected from scammed vendors.
Police said the couple printed only what they needed daily — usually between 300 and 3,000 yuan — to avoid detection. They also took precautions to conceal their identities.
Under China’s Criminal Law, producing and using counterfeit currency carries penalties of three to ten years in prison, plus fines ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan. In severe cases, the death penalty can apply.
Public reaction online has been fierce. “They scammed hard-working people, many of them elderly rural vendors who still rely on cash,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “This level of deceit deserves the harshest punishment.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
