Chinese Man Changes Locks on Vacant Flat, Sells It to Trusting Friends for US$103,000
A brazen real estate scam out of eastern China has captured national attention after a man with a prior fraud conviction managed to sell an apartment he did not own to a couple who had been his close friends for nearly three decades. By simply changing the locks on a vacant flat and posing as its rightful owner, the fraudster walked away with over 700,000 yuan — approximately US$103,000 — leaving his victims financially devastated and legally entangled in a property deal that was fraudulent from the very beginning.
Who Is the Fraudster Behind the Scam?
The man at the center of the scheme, identified by the surname Sun, was a Shanghai resident who had previously owned two shops, both of which eventually went out of business. His financial troubles were not new, nor were his brushes with the law. According to mainland Chinese media outlet Xinmin Evening News, Sun had already served time in prison for fraud before this latest incident came to light.
After his release from prison in 2017, Sun found himself financially struggling once again. Rather than rebuilding his life through legitimate means, he reportedly leaned on the goodwill of a married couple he had known for nearly thirty years. This couple, out of loyalty and compassion for an old friend, consistently provided him with meals and financial assistance during what they believed was a difficult but temporary period for him.
What they did not know was that their generosity would eventually be weaponized against them in one of the most personal forms of betrayal imaginable — a real estate fraud executed by someone they fully trusted.
How the Real Estate Fraud Was Carried Out
The mechanics of the scam were shockingly simple, which makes the story all the more alarming for prospective property buyers everywhere. Sun identified a vacant residential flat and, without any legal claim to the property, changed its locks. This single act gave him the physical appearance of ownership — he could enter the apartment, show it to potential buyers, and present himself as the legitimate landlord looking to sell.
He then approached the couple who had supported him through his difficult years and offered to sell them the flat. Trusting a man they had known for decades, and likely moved by the prospect of a property deal through a familiar face rather than an anonymous market transaction, the couple agreed. They handed over more than 700,000 yuan — a life-altering sum of money — believing they were making a secure investment in a legitimate property purchase.
The transaction, however, had no legal standing whatsoever. Sun held no title to the apartment, had no authority to sell it, and had fabricated his role as owner entirely. The couple received nothing of legal value in return for their money.
The Alarming Ease of Physical Deception in Property Sales
One of the most troubling aspects of this case is how low the barrier to executing such a scheme actually was. Changing a lock requires no special skills, no legal documentation, and minimal financial outlay. Yet this simple physical act was enough to create a convincing illusion of ownership that fooled people who were emotionally invested in trusting the seller.
Real estate experts and consumer protection advocates have long warned that property fraud disproportionately affects buyers who rely on personal relationships or informal channels rather than conducting rigorous due diligence. In China, as in many countries, property transactions are supposed to involve official title verification, government registration checks, and legal documentation. When buyers skip these steps — especially when dealing with someone they know — fraudsters can exploit that gap with devastating effectiveness.
Warning Signs Buyers Should Never Ignore
Cases like Sun's serve as a stark reminder of the warning signs that every property buyer should be vigilant about, regardless of how well they think they know the seller. Key red flags include:
- Unverified ownership documents: Always demand to see and independently verify the official property title certificate. Do not accept copies or verbal assurances.
- Pressure to close quickly: Fraudsters often create urgency to prevent buyers from conducting proper checks. A legitimate seller will not object to a reasonable verification process.
- Deals made outside official channels: Any transaction that bypasses registered real estate agents, notaries, or government property registries should raise immediate concern.
- Emotional trust replacing legal due diligence: A long friendship does not substitute for legal verification. Financial transactions require documented proof regardless of personal relationships.
- Vacant properties with informal access: If a seller cannot produce clear evidence of how and when they acquired a property, treat the situation with extreme caution.
Legal Consequences and Broader Implications
Sun was ultimately apprehended by authorities, and the case was reported widely in Chinese media as a cautionary tale about property fraud and misplaced trust. For Sun, the consequences of reoffending after a prior fraud conviction are expected to be severe under Chinese law. For the couple, the road to financial recovery will be long and uncertain, as recovering funds from convicted fraudsters is rarely straightforward even when justice is served.
The case also raises broader questions about how China's property market — already a complex and sometimes opaque environment for ordinary buyers — needs stronger safeguards at the grassroots level to prevent opportunistic scams like this one from succeeding so easily.
How to Protect Yourself from Property Fraud
Whether you are buying property in China, the United States, the United Kingdom, or anywhere else in the world, the fundamentals of safe property transactions remain universal. Always engage a licensed real estate attorney or solicitor to conduct title searches. Use government land registry systems to confirm ownership before transferring any funds. Insist on conducting transactions through regulated financial and legal channels, and be especially cautious when a deal is brought to you through a personal network rather than a formal marketplace.
The story of Sun and his betrayed friends is a painful illustration of how even decades of trust can be shattered in a single fraudulent transaction. In real estate, as in so many areas of financial life, verification is not an insult to a relationship — it is the foundation of a safe one.