Ghost money buys Beijing man 9 smart TVs
Staff Reporter 2013-12-31 15:14
People releasing ghost money into the sea for those who died by the shore. (Photo/Chen Chen-tang)
A swindler in Beijing managed to "buy" nine sets of LCD TVs with ghost money, stacks of papers offered as money for the deceased. The shop lost 270,000 yuan (US$44,538) from the ethereal transactions in May.
The swindler walked into the shop on May 1 and told the owner he wanted nine sets of Samsung flat screen TVs. The owner and the con man agreed on the total price of 270,900 yuan.
While the shop owner was packing up the boxes, the con man went to "take out money." Despite the obviously fake appearance of the money, the man laid down a bag containing 250,000 yuan (US$41,239), assuring the store owner that he would bring the rest soon. He never came back.
When the shop owner opened the bag, he found ghost money and alerted the police. The crook, who was eventually caught, claimed to have sold the TV sets and spent the profits.
