Check a person’s marital status before getting married; those who use marriage as a pretext to defraud money can be prosecuted for fraud

Marriages involving bigamy are invalid. Anyone who already has a spouse yet marries again, or who knowingly marries someone who already has a spouse, faces up to 2 years in prison. Those who use marriage as a ruse to steal money can be charged with fraud: if the amount taken is relatively large, they get up to 3 years; if it’s huge, 3 to 10 years; if it’s exceptionally massive, 10 years or life imprisonment. Always verify the marital status on the ID card and household register before tying the knot.

Cost

No cost at all. Before registration, simply check the marital status listed on the other person’s ID card and household register. For any large sums of money exchanged, keep records of transfers and chat logs.

Benefit

Bigamous marriages hold no legal weight. Persons who enter a second marriage while already married, or who knowingly wed someone already married, may be sentenced to 2 years or less. Those convicted of defrauding others of sizable sums face up to 3 years plus a fine; those guilty of massive fraud receive 3 to 10 years; those responsible for truly enormous fraud get 10 years or life imprisonment, plus a fine or seizure of assets (nationwide).

Notes

“Marriage fraud” itself isn’t a specific criminal category. Prosecution for fraud hinges on proof that the perpetrator intended to keep the money from the outset, fabricated lies to obtain it, and that police have launched an investigation. What counts as a “relatively large” sum is defined by judicial rulings, which may vary regionally; this section doesn’t confirm exact thresholds. Victims of such fraud can be either gender, and documented cases involve both dowries and bridal gifts being stolen.

Sources · 2

1. 全国人大 (2020). 民法典（第一千零五十一条）. spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml
2. 全国人大 (1997). 刑法（第二百五十八、二百六十六条）. spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml