A woman has been arrested in connection with an elaborate scam involving more than 1 million yuan (US$156,230), according to prosecutors in Songjiang District.

The woman, surnamed Han, allegedly impersonated a successful businesswoman who traded medical supplies at the city’s hospitals. Also, she claimed her uncle was an executive at a listed medical device company, prosecutors said.

Han is said to have met and befriended the alleged victim, surnamed Wang, in 2017. Han told Wang that a hospital official ordered 1.8 million yuan in nebulizers from her and she wanted Wang to take part in the deal, prosecutors said.

Wang was allegedly convinced by Han to invest 700,000 yuan to complete the deal, which promised returns of one million yuan. Wang later invested an additional 650,000 yuan, and received 300,000 yuan in supposed investment returns from Han, prosecutors said.

In March, Wang lost contact with Han and realized that she had been cheated. Police apprehended Han and an investigation revealed that she used money from Wang to repay her own debts.

Han has been arrested for fraud. Further investigations of other suspects are ongoing, prosecutors said.