"Private Jets and Yacht Selfies"... The Truth Behind Flaunting a Luxurious Life

An online industry selling "luxury lifestyle photos" has emerged in China. Some customized profile creation services, which can cost hundreds of thousands of won, even offer consulting to help clients appear wealthy. There are concerns that these services could be exploited for fraudulent purposes.

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

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On April 15 (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that "an online industry that allows people to create the image of a 'wealthy individual' for as little as 1 yuan (about 200 won) is thriving in China."

These photos feature scenes such as travel destinations, fine dining, and participation in luxury sports like golf and skiing. The price of these photos typically 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 everyday photos with staged travel or business images to make clients appear affluent or successful.

For example, a popular seller offers a "luxury influencer package" for 3,999 yuan (about 860,000 won). This package includes staged photos with backgrounds such as surfing, yachts, helicopters, luxury cars, horseback riding, underwater restaurants, and swimming pools. The seller explained, "All these locations are high-cost settings," and added, "The shoot takes place over two days, with groups of six to eight people sharing the cost, each paying 3,999 yuan."

The seller further stated, "Most clients use these photos to make a good impression on women or for business purposes," and added, "We also guide clients on how to post the images on social media and build a (wealthy) image."

The problem is that these photos can be misused as a means to deceive others. There are particular concerns that they could be exploited to exaggerate one's financial status or lifestyle, especially in dating or matchmaking contexts. In fact, last year in China, a fraudster was apprehended for posing on social media with private jet trips and luxury shopping to approach victims, ultimately swindling 2.7 billion won over the course of a year.

Professor Liu Junhai of Renmin University of China told state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), "If a seller knowingly provides so-called 'rich person photos' to help consumers deceive or mislead others, this constitutes malice or gross negligence."

He added, "If a third party suffers property or physical damage, companies that maliciously plan, execute, or package these services cannot be exempt from responsibility."

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