BBC – China is cracking down on “flash marriage” scams in which matchmaking agencies target single men with promises of quickly finding a wife. Victims have paid large agency fees and bride prices, only for their new wives to disappear or be exposed as having concealed major personal and financial information. The scams exploit China’s gender imbalance and shortage of potential partners, particularly in rural areas. Authorities investigated cases involving more than 1,500 people between January 2024 and March 2025, but prosecutions and recovering victims’ money remain difficult.