Mystery over blast appeal girl’s identity
Print Edition
POLICE are investigating a microblogger claiming to be a girl whose father was missing after this week’s huge explosion in Tianjin, who abruptly deleted the account after web users donated more than 100,000 yuan (US$15,650).
But before deleting the account yesterday, the account holder using the name “yangcailan” posted a message saying, “I’m not a cheater.”
The blogger posted on Weibo.com early on Thursday morning, saying she had lost touch with her father who worked next to the industrial area rocked by two huge explosions late on Wednesday night.
Yesterday, at least 56 people were confirmed dead in the blast in the northern city, with more than 720 in hospital with injuries.
The blogger said she felt frightened and alone as her mother was dead, and asked netizens for help.
The plea attracted wide attention after celebrities such as writer Zhang Jiajia retweeted the post and donated money.
However, yangcailan deleted the account after receiving more than 100,000 yuan from some 3,700 netizens.
And as concerns grew, Weibo said it took action.
“We have frozen her account and will pay back the donations. We have also reported the case to the police,” Weibo said yesterday.
The case led to a “human flesh search” when web users try collectively to find information about someone.
And in another twist, a post said that the account holder’s phone had been stolen and hacked.
Police did not confirm this.
Zhang donated to the account and retweeted the post yesterday morning, attracting more donations from the public. His posts were retweeted more than 3,000 times.
“Don’t be afraid my girl. I will accompany you and pay your education fees,” Zhang wrote on his account.
The writer later posted an apology to his followers, fearing he’d been duped.
Anyone who is found to have swindled more than 100,000 yuan faces more than 10 years in prison, according to Chinese criminal law.
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