2nd February 2026 – (Beijing) A 23-year-old man from mainland China has been charged after allegedly posing as a J‑16 fighter jet pilot and using the false military identity to deceive more than 100 women online. Prosecutors have formally brought charges against the suspect, surnamed Xu, for extortion and impersonating a member of the armed forces, following an investigation highlighted by CCTV Military.
Police revealed that Xu, whose real occupation was that of a chef, carefully constructed a convincing military persona to gain trust. He shared images of forged officer credentials, military camps, training scenes and aircraft, while repeatedly hinting during dates and online chats that he was an active-duty air force pilot. He even fabricated a dramatic backstory, claiming he had been injured while protecting a J‑16 during an accident and was recovering outside the base.
One victim, a woman from Shandong, said she met Xu through an introduction and believed she was dating a fighter pilot. Her trust was shattered when she was later contacted by an individual calling himself “Bai Yu”, who threatened to release intimate videos unless she paid 200,000 yuan. Xu persuaded her to split the money with him, claiming he would pass it on to stop the blackmail. Shortly afterwards, both Xu and “Bai Yu” vanished.
The case unravelled after the victim reported the matter to police, who discovered that the introducer, the supposed pilot and the blackmailer were all controlled by Xu using different online accounts. Investigators found that he followed a similar pattern repeatedly, first approaching women under a false identity, then forming romantic relationships before attempting to extort money.
Further checks with the military confirmed Xu had never served in the armed forces. When arrested, he was found wearing physical training gear, and officers seized camouflage uniforms bearing lieutenant insignia along with other military-style clothing. An examination of his messaging accounts showed he maintained flirtatious contact with more than 100 women, selecting targets for fraud.
Authorities noted that strict rules already prohibit service members from using dating platforms or sharing images that reveal their identity online, underscoring how easily fake military personas can be exploited. Xu now faces prosecution as the case moves forward through the courts.
