Fake teen ‘hero for poverty alleviation’ creates articles praising self

Police in East China’s Shandong Province announced on Monday that a so-called 17-yearold “hero for poverty alleviation,” who sparked discussions online, is confirmed to be a fraud.

A public security bureau in Ji’nan, capital of Shandong Province, released on Monday the identity of Shi Runlong, who claimed to have written an article on xinhuanet.com, the official website of the Xinhua News Agency, and claimed to be a director of the Shandong internet economy research center – a made-up organization.

Shi was born in August 2001 in Ji’nan and did not manage to graduate from a middle school. He made up his titles of director and “hero,” and asked somebody else to write publicity articles for him, said police. Further investigation is undergoing, said police.

The incident went viral on Chinese social media platforms after Shi posted photoshopped pictures showing his presentation of a lecture in a government meeting hall and published fake articles he claimed appeared in the People’s Daily and Xinhua, news site thepaper.cn reported on Saturday.

Shi also posted photoshopped photos featuring him with world leaders, including the US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Xinhuanet.com released a statement on Friday to clarify that its name was used illegally.

“Xinhuanet.com has reported the incident to relevant department, and will firmly defend its legal rights in accordance to law,” read the statement.