A man in China, identified only by his surname Wang, was detained after creating a fake wanted poster of himself and sharing it online, reportedly due to boredom.
According to the South China Morning Post, Wang posted the false arrest order on social media in November, claiming he was a criminal named Wang Yibo, a well-known Chinese actor and dancer. The post alleged that he extorted 30 million yuan (around $4 million or over P230 million) from a company and possessed a submachine gun with 500 bullets.
“I am a native of Qinyuan county, Changzhi city, Shanxi province. I extorted 30 million yuan from a company on November 10, 2024. If you find me, you will be rewarded 30,000 yuan,” he wrote in the caption.
The post quickly went viral, amassing 350,000 views, 2,500 likes, and over 1,100 shares in under 24 hours. Authorities, taking the claims seriously, launched an investigation and apprehended Wang within hours.
Upon investigation, the police confirmed that Wang did not possess any illegal weapons or commit any crimes. He later admitted to fabricating the story because he was feeling “disheartened and bored.”
Police imposed a “criminal coercive measure” on Wang, temporarily restricting his freedom as a penalty for spreading false information.
“The internet is not beyond the reach of the law. Fabricating a story and spreading it are both criminal acts,” the authorities emphasized, warning of legal consequences for those who create or share false information online.
