A 35-year-old migrant worker from Anhui sent eggs painted red to people working in the offices at the Zhanghuabang Port and then asked for money, claiming his wife had fallen ill after delivering a baby, Shanghai Morning Post reports.

Red eggs are usually given out to celebrate new-borns. People who received the eggs from Qian, a stranger, were embarrassed by his request and felt compelled to give him money to save face.

But when asked how his wife was faring, he did not give a clear explanation, which aroused suspicion.

Qian was eventually escorted to a police station where he admitted he had lied.

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