Chinese couple abandons baby with nanny for $55mn inheritance from ex-partner

In China, a couple lefttheir baby with a nanny, citing alargeinheritance of 400 million yuan (around US$55 million) from the wife's ex-partner.Afterward, they disappeared, leaving the nanny whom they had to pay 110,000 yuan (approximately US$15,000). This has sparked intense online debate, with suspicions arising that the couple might not be the child's biological parents and may have exploited the infant in a scam, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

The couple, from Harbin in northeastern China, absconded after leaving their five-month-old in the nanny's care without payment.

They claimed the windfall would come from the wife's dead former partner. Despite several months of service, the nanny received no salary and even lent the couple 50,000 yuan. Evidence provided by the nanny via WeChat indicates financial transactions with the couple.

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How did the couple convince the nanny?

Their story about inheriting wealth in Tianjin seemed dubious. To gain the nanny's trust, they showed her manipulated screenshots of alleged inheritances and a photo of a property certificate, which was later revealed to be altered. Attempts to contact the couple have failed, leaving the nanny unable to recover her losses.

“I gave them all my savings, but since November last year, I haven’t received my salary. They owe me and the money I borrowed from my brother. Without any income, I’m still caring for their child,” the nanny told Heilongjiang Radio and Television.

Many online commentators advised her to report the incident to the authorities, suspecting she may have been targeted in a scam.

“Are they even the real parents? Why not take the child with you if you’re going to claim a 400 million-yuan inheritance?” asked one online observer.

“You should report this to the police. This story has too many holes. It’s highly unlikely her ex would leave her such an inheritance unless the child was his. This smells like a scam,” said another.

“Is it possible the child isn’t actually theirs? Maybe they kidnapped the child to sell but, finding no buyers, turned to scamming instead,” said a third person.

While a fourth wrote, "This couple may have either kidnapped or abandoned the child. In either case, it’s a crime. I’m waiting to see if any action will be taken."

(With inputs from agencies)