Recently, Chinese artist Jin Zihan publicly revealed that she has been trapped in a meticulously orchestrated scam for many years. Someone impersonated her friends and family, gradually earning her trust and subsequently manipulating her finances, leading her to a state where she found herself destitute and homeless. This revelation quickly became a hot topic on social media.
Jin Zihan, who participated in the talent show “Youth With You 2,” took to her social media platform on the evening of November 8 to share her ordeal of being deceived by someone pretending to be an acquaintance. She reported that this person not only stole her savings but also her personal belongings. Furthermore, she was lured into an unfamiliar city, and upon attempting to return home, she discovered that her passport had been stolen and that she was without any money, which put her in a perilous situation where homelessness loomed.
In her post, Jin revealed that she had been deceived for years by someone posing as a family friend. This individual gained her trust by spending years ingratiating themselves, eventually coming to be seen as her “best friend.” It was only later that she realized this person had no actual ties to her family. She explained that similar situations had occurred more than once, indicating that there was not just one fabricated “good friend” in her life who was deliberately trying to get close to her for ulterior motives.
She further recounted that these individuals repeatedly took her personal items and money. For the past two years, she has not been able to buy new clothes, bags, or shoes, and has had to live frugally, even borrowing money from friends to get by.
Jin Zihan also mentioned that she had been tricked into a strange city and only realized her passport was stolen when she tried to return home. Lacking funds, she was unable to make a smooth journey back. In another post in English, she expressed her concern about potentially having nowhere to go after shopping centers closed, admitting she might end up sleeping on the streets.
On November 9, a netizen spotted Jin Zihan at a supermarket in Guangdong and took a photo, asking online if the person in the picture was indeed her. Upon seeing the post, Jin personally confirmed her identity in the comments section, stating, “Yes, that’s me! I was left homeless a few days ago! But please delete the photo! My situation is already terrible!!!”
She further elaborated on her predicament in the comment section. Reports indicate that she claimed she had been drugged and poisoned, leading her to sleep on a chair for four consecutive days, while crying out, “I just want to go home.”
Posts related to her situation indicated that her social media activity originated from Guangdong, though this information did not help pinpoint her exact location.
Jin Zihan, born on February 5, 1999, is now 27 years old. She gained fame after finishing ninth in the finals of “Youth With You 2” in 2020, later joining the girl group NAME under Lebo Entertainment. On April 8, 2025, she announced her exit from the entertainment industry, expressing a desire to return to a more normal life.
Since her withdrawal, Jin has frequently voiced her experiences on social media. In April of this year, she mentioned during a live broadcast that she was being monitored and subjected to unknown substances, enduring physical pain and mental distress.
Her candid account of being robbed, losing her passport, and being trapped in an unfamiliar place has attracted significant attention from netizens.
According to urban reports, Jin Zihan described herself as naive and easily trusting, stating that she had encountered such betrayals more than once throughout her life.
After her departure from the limelight, Jin Zihan underwent significant physical changes; she was recently photographed with a buzz cut, having lost considerable weight down to 49 kilograms at a height of 172 centimeters, contrasting sharply with her appearance during her idol days.
Currently, Jin Zihan’s claims are solely her own, and there has been no police announcement or independent evidence to support her story, leaving the situation surrounded by controversy and awaiting further verification.