Sham marriages on the rise despite risk of permit revocation

Despite the declaration that any Macau residency permit obtained through a sham marriage will be considered invalid, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) reported a continued rise in cases of sham marriages last year.

According to figures released by the force, the number of reported “fake marriage” cases last year reached 51, marking a 41.7% increase compared to the 36 cases recorded in 2024. Meanwhile, the number of uncovered “fake family visit” cases stood at 10, representing a 40% decrease from the 14 cases identified in 2024.

Instead of announcing the suspects in fake marriage cases separately, authorities combined both case types in their announcement, stating that a total of 124 suspects were apprehended, including 62 males and 62 females, along with eight intermediaries.

The breakdown of suspects by nationality and region includes 85 Macau residents, two Hong Kong residents, 35 mainland Chinese residents, one Filipino national, and one Myanmar national. The largest age group represented was individuals aged 51 to 60 years, comprising 40 individuals, followed by those aged 41 to 50 years, totaling 31 individuals.

The police stated that no cases have been identified to date involving online platforms or instant messaging software used to recruit Macau residents for fraudulent marriages for financial gain.

In cases uncovered last year, the modus operandi primarily involved non-residents using relatives to introduce single or divorced Macau residents to acquaintances for sham marriages, with the highest illicit profit reaching HKD120,000.

As noted, these individuals claimed to be “assisting in improving the living conditions of the relevant non-residents,” often employing false promises such as “end-of-life care” to deceive Macau residents into entering into “fake marriages.”

The authorities have warned that individuals involved in sham marriages or facilitating fake family visit visas may face up to eight years in prison. They stated that, given the widespread use of social media, law enforcement continues to closely monitor suspicious cases on online platforms, including social media.