From 1 to 8 Yuan Photos to Custom Packages Worth Hundreds of Thousands of Won
Booming “Wealthy Image” Market
Concerns Over Potential Use in Scams
An online industry that sells “luxury lifestyle photos” has emerged in China. Some services offer customized profile photo packages costing hundreds of thousands of won, even providing consulting to help clients appear wealthy. Concerns have been raised that these services could be misused for scams and other fraudulent activities.
A Chinese woman who deceived an acquaintance by claiming to be the second generation of a chaebol and extorted billions of won was arrested on fraud charges last December. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Zimu Newspaper, Southern Metropolis Daily
On April 15 (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that “an online industry has been thriving in China, where people can create the image of a ‘wealthy individual’ for as little as 1 yuan (approximately 200 won).”
These photos typically feature scenes such as travel destinations, fine dining, and high-end sports activities like golf and skiing. The usual price for these photos ranges from 1 to 8 yuan (about 200 to 1,730 won).
In addition to low-cost bulk photo packages, some sellers offer premium services called “profile customization.” This involves combining casual photos with staged travel or business images to make clients appear affluent or successful.
For example, one popular seller offers a “luxury influencer package” for 3,999 yuan (approximately 860,000 won). This package includes staged photos set against backdrops such as surfing, yachts, helicopters, luxury cars, horseback riding, underwater restaurants, and swimming pools. The seller explained, “All of these locations are expensive venues. The photoshoot lasts for two days, and the costs are shared among six to eight people, with each person paying 3,999 yuan.”
The seller added, “Most customers use these photos to make a good impression on women or for business purposes. We also advise clients on how to post these images on social media and build a (wealthy) image.”
The problem is that such photos can be misused as a means of deceiving others. There are particular concerns about people using them to exaggerate their financial status or lifestyle in dating or matchmaking scenarios. In fact, last year in China, a fraudster was arrested for scamming 2.7 billion won over the course of a year by flaunting a luxurious life—such as private jet travel and luxury shopping—on social media to lure victims.
Professor Liu Junhai of Renmin University Law School told state-run CCTV, “If a provider knows that consumers intend to use so-called ‘rich photos’ to deceive or mislead others, providing such ‘luxury image’ photos constitutes malice or gross negligence.”
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He continued, “If a third party suffers property damage or physical harm, companies that maliciously plan, execute, or package these services cannot avoid responsibility.”
This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.
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