Shanghai, September 1: A shocking case of insurance fraud has emerged from Shanghai, where a 42-year-old woman, identified by her surname Xie, was found guilty of fabricating multiple miscarriages to claim 66,200 yuan (Rs 7.8 lakh) in maternity insurance benefits.

Xie, a high-earning employee at a foreign company with a monthly salary exceeding 30,000 yuan (Rs 3.55 lakh), used her computer skills to forge medical documents, including maternity certificates and discharge summaries, to falsely claim hospitalisation for miscarriages, reported SCMP. Her deceitful scheme was inspired by a genuine miscarriage she suffered two years prior, after which she successfully claimed insurance benefits. US Man Gives Abortion Pill to Pregnant Girlfriend to End Her Pregnancy, Charged After Woman Suffers Miscarriage.

Between 2020 and 2024, Xie submitted five fraudulent insurance claims, meticulously destroying all related documents to cover her tracks. She managed to secure 66,200 yuan in benefits through two online claims. However, her luck ran out earlier this year when she attempted to file another false claim for over 40,000 yuan, which was rejected. A month later, she gave birth to her first child and applied for legitimate maternity benefits. During a routine review, officials discovered the suspicious pattern of multiple claims, leading to an investigation. Chinese National Allegedly Running 'Likely World's Largest Ever' Cybercrime Botnet Arrested in Singapore, USD 29 Million in Cryptocurrency Seized.

Xie ultimately surrendered to the authorities and returned the fraudulently obtained money. In her confession, she expressed regret, stating, "As an older pregnant woman with poor health, I worried about medical costs. In desperation, I impulsively faked miscarriages to get the insurance money." 

On August 16, a Shanghai court found Xie guilty of fraud and handed her a one-and-a-half-year suspended jail term. Judge Wang Xinyuan said that her actions not only violated her employer's property rights but also threatened the integrity of the social insurance system.

The case has ignited a heated debate online, with many expressing disbelief that someone with Xie's income would resort to fraud. "For about 60,000 yuan, she has ruined her life and her children's future," one user commented, while another noted, "Greed knows no bounds."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2024 06:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).