Chinese men warned over bridal scams as marriage squeeze drives search for wives in Africa

A young Malagasy woman was stopped at Madagascar’s Ivato International Airport last month as she prepared to travel to China for a proposed marriage, according to local media reports citing police. She had reportedly been promised 10 million ariary (US$2,300) once she arrived and married a Chinese man.

The case led police to investigate a suspected network involved in arranging similar marriages. Four people were detained, and police reportedly recovered false stamps, documents and 10 Malagasy passports.

Investigators said several women may have already travelled to China through the network.

These arrangements are often marketed as a solution for Chinese men struggling to find a partner at home. Men are told they can travel abroad, pay a matchmaking fee and bride price, then return home with a wife.

But recent cases reported in Malawi and Madagascar show that Chinese men can face fraud, extortion and criminal investigation, while women recruited as brides can face deception, coercion and human trafficking.

Such cases have prompted warnings from Chinese embassies and raised questions about whether they are isolated incidents or part of a broader, emerging pattern.