A MAN who bought a counterfeit bankbook four years ago in a bid to hoodwink the mother of his bride-to-be into thinking he was wealthy got his comeuppance recently when he was charged with fraud.

　　Zhang Wei purchased the fake document for 300 yuan (US$47) from an anonymous forger in 2011, shortly before his marriage. It is traditional in some parts of China for grooms to pay a “dowry” after the wedding ceremony, which is first presented to the mother-in-law before being passed to the bride.

　　Zhang’s wife had no call to use the bankbook, which showed a balance of 100,000 yuan, until May. When she did, the fraud discovered.

　　An investigation was launched and Zhang was charged with counterfeiting a financial document, the Jiading District Procuratorate said on Wednesday.