Three Detained in China After Staging Homeless 'Rescue' for Online Traffic

Three people have been detained in southwest China's Yunnan Province for staging fake "rescue" videos of a supposed homeless woman to attract online traffic and donations, CCTV reported on Thursday.

Police in Lijiang launched an investigation after multiple short videos began circulating online showing a ragged woman curled up inside a wooden hut in a remote mountainous area.

In the clips, the filmer appeared to express concern for her condition and claimed they would provide food and bedding, prompting widespread attention and offers of donations from viewers.

Authorities later found that two individuals, surnamed Liu and A, had traveled from Heilongjiang Province to Lijiang and hired a third person, Yang, to play the role of the "homeless woman." Since March 28, the group had scripted and filmed more than 10 staged videos portraying scenes of "discovery" and "rescue," police said.

The videos misled the public and disrupted online order, authorities added.

Liu and A were each given five days of administrative detention, while Yang received two days.