這起新聞事件發生在中國，一名67歲的老大爺透過婚戀平台結識一名女子，兩人相處不久便登記結婚。然而，婚後女子迅速展露真面目，以各種理由向老翁索取金錢，聲稱用於家庭支出、投資、醫療等。短短幾個月內，男子便前後轉帳超過70萬元人民幣，最後驚覺對方「人財兩空」，不僅感情遭受欺騙，連畢生積蓄也被掏空。

案件經司法審理後，法院認定該女子行為構成詐騙罪，依《中華人民共和國刑法》判處其有期徒刑10年4個月，並責令退還非法所得61萬餘元。然而，受害者在判決後無奈地表示，女方「寧願坐牢也不還錢」，讓人看見婚戀詐騙在實際執行上存在巨大困境，即便判決生效，被害人也難以追回全部損失。

這起事件並非孤例，反映出當前中國部分婚戀市場的畸形生態。隨著人口老齡化與獨居現象加劇，中老年人對情感與陪伴的需求日益強烈，尤其是在配偶早逝、子女分居的情況下，婚戀平台提供他們認識異性的出口。然而，這也被部分不法分子視為「可乘之機」，特別針對年長、資產豐厚且情感孤獨的對象展開「婚姻詐財」行動。

這類詐騙往往有特定模式：一開始假意示好，迅速取得信任，再透過婚姻製造「法律背書」與情感綁架，進而施加心理壓力要求對方金援。有些騙子甚至會製造「投資機會」、安排虛構的親屬生病等手法，讓被害人一步步陷入金錢陷阱。最終，即使關係破裂或遭遇法律制裁，詐騙者也已將金錢轉移或揮霍，造成被害人難以追討。

為何中國這類事件時有發生？其背後牽涉多層社會結構問題。首先，中老年人普遍對網路與金融詐騙的警覺性低，缺乏辨識風險的能力。其次，部分婚戀平台審核不嚴、監管缺失，甚至縱容虛假帳號與「婚托」（詐騙團夥的一部分）存在，讓受害人誤以為是在正當場合認識對象。再者，中國傳統文化中對「結婚」的重視，讓不少人認為只要領了證，就意味著可以放心依靠對方，忽視對財產的保護與婚前財務審慎。

此外，法律雖對詐騙行為有明確處罰，但在實際執行層面，刑罰與賠償的落實往往存在困難。一旦詐騙者入獄，其財產早已轉移或隱藏，受害者即使勝訴也難以獲得實質補償，導致「法律有力、執行無門」的窘境。

這起事件再度敲響警鐘，不僅提醒中老年人提高對婚戀交往的警覺性，也呼籲政府與平台加強對婚戀市場的監管與詐騙預防教育，從源頭杜絕此類情感犯罪。唯有透過制度改革與社會共識建立，才能避免更多人因愛生災，讓婚姻真正成為信任與幸福的起點，而非詐財與傷害的陷阱。

This news story from China involves a 67-year-old man who met a woman through a matchmaking platform. The pair registered for marriage shortly after getting to know each other. However, the woman quickly revealed her true intentions after marriage—requesting large sums of money under various pretenses such as household expenses, investments, and medical needs. Within just a few months, the man transferred over 700,000 RMB (approx. $96,000 USD), only to realize too late that he had been emotionally and financially deceived.

After legal proceedings, the court found the woman guilty of fraud under Chinese criminal law and sentenced her to 10 years and 4 months in prison. She was also ordered to repay over 610,000 RMB. Despite the ruling, the victim expressed frustration, saying the woman “would rather go to jail than return the money,” highlighting the real-world difficulty of recovering losses even when justice is served.

This case is far from isolated. It reflects a growing problem in China’s matchmaking and marriage market—particularly affecting the elderly. As the country faces an aging population and increasing loneliness among seniors, many older individuals turn to dating platforms to seek companionship. Unfortunately, some fraudsters exploit this vulnerability, targeting older, financially stable, and emotionally needy individuals to carry out "marriage scams."

These scams typically follow a pattern: the perpetrator pretends to be affectionate, quickly builds trust, then uses the legitimacy of marriage and emotional pressure to manipulate the victim into transferring money. In some cases, they fabricate investment opportunities or medical emergencies. By the time the relationship breaks down or legal consequences catch up with them, the scammer has often already squandered or hidden the money, making restitution nearly impossible.

Why are such cases so frequent in China? There are several underlying societal issues. First, many older individuals lack the digital literacy and awareness needed to spot financial fraud. Second, matchmaking platforms often have lax vetting procedures and poor oversight, sometimes allowing fake accounts or even collusion with scam groups posing as romantic partners. Additionally, traditional Chinese culture places great emphasis on marriage, leading some to assume that once a marriage certificate is obtained, full trust and financial dependence are warranted—without proper safeguards in place.

Although Chinese law clearly criminalizes fraud, enforcement and actual financial recovery are often difficult. If a fraudster is sentenced, their assets may already be hidden or gone, leaving victims without compensation. This creates a troubling reality where justice on paper doesn’t always translate into tangible relief.

This incident serves as a stark reminder, especially for the elderly, to exercise caution in romantic relationships. It also underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation and fraud prevention within the matchmaking industry. Governments and platforms must work together to enforce better identity verification, promote fraud education, and close loopholes that allow emotional crimes to flourish. Only through comprehensive legal reforms and greater public awareness can marriage once again become a sanctuary of trust and happiness—instead of a trap for the unsuspecting.