Cross-border marriage fraud: Fake marriages for financial fraud
Case Overview:
Ms. Liu, a Chinese citizen, met a man claiming to be a British businessman on an international dating website. After a year of online communication, the two decided to marry, and Ms. Liu fully funded his visa application and other expenses in China. After the man successfully obtained his visa, the two married and lived together in China. However, shortly after their marriage, Ms. Liu noticed that the man had suddenly gone offline. Further investigation revealed that he had been married multiple times before. Suspecting she had been defrauded, Ms. Liu decided to seek legal assistance.
Legal Response:
Consultation and Evidence Collection:
When Ms. Liu contacted Financial Legal Aid, she provided all her communication records with the man, her marriage certificate, and relevant payment receipts. The legal team concluded that the case exhibited the hallmarks of a typical transnational marriage scam, where the man deceived Ms. Liu into giving up her assets through a sham marriage.Marital Background Investigation and Evidence Collection:
Financial Legal Aid conducted a detailed investigation into the man's identity. Working with the UK marriage registry, the legal team discovered that the man was already married to someone else but had not disclosed this information to Ms. Liu. The attorneys also discovered that the man had obtained financial support from Ms. Liu through false statements and fraudulent means.
Transnational Litigation and Legal Action:
Financial Legal Aid immediately contacted legal counsel in the UK and reported the case to Chinese law enforcement. Given the cross-border nature of the fraud, the firm assisted Ms. Liu in gathering sufficient evidence and initiated a cross-border investigation through INTERPOL. The attorneys also prepared the necessary civil litigation materials for Ms. Liu, who filed a lawsuit seeking the recovery of assets acquired by the man during the marriage.
Outcome and Recovery:
After two years of international litigation and investigation, the court ultimately found the man guilty of the offenses. Ms. Liu successfully recovered most of the defrauded funds, while the man was convicted of fraud and faces criminal liability.
Results and Conclusion:
This case highlights the importance of background checks and property protection in international marriages, and reminds people to remain vigilant in international marriages to avoid becoming victims of fraud.
