Why did fraudsters choose this bait?
Why Jin Dong? I was baffled when I first saw the news about the scam videos, which I find ludicrous.
Why the swindlers choose Jin Dong to lure 50- or 60-something females seems a question worthy of contemplation.
Though he had worked as an actor for nearly 30 years, Jin’s turning point came in 2015 when the TV series The Disguiser — a political thriller set during the War of
Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) — went viral, making him a celebrity crush for many older women.
In the series, Jin played a spy who was decisive in matters of life and death, but also tender and thoughtful with family members and those he loved.
His fine acting skills and handsome face — some fans claim he closely resembles Brad Pitt — quickly attracted many fans, including my mom.
“Jin Dong is a real man and makes people feel secure,” she told me when I asked for her thoughts about the fake videos. She often makes gentle jokes to me about the subject.
Older women say Jin is different from pretty boys who just have beautiful faces. He is more like a husband who can give his wife and children a sweet life.
“I will be very happy if your future husband is like Jin Dong,” mom said with a laugh.
Certainly, he is one of the rare actors who accord with female ideals for older brothers, fathers or even husbands, despite the entertainment industry’s preference for rugged older men and pretty boys.
He is the actor the scene lacks: his obvious masculinity, refined manner and equitable temperament make him highly attractive to mature women, many of whom may feel themselves trapped in unhappy marriages.
He seems to be a savior for many married women — especially those in their 40s and 50s, or even 60s — to whom family life may seem lackluster.
The ridiculous fake videos that use Jin’s face provide consolation in their loneliness and emptiness, because the swindlers use emotions to exploit weaknesses.
The videos can also serve as a warning, however. Many of the women I interviewed said they lacked companionship from family members and/or had little to occupy their time outside the home. They have been housewives for a long time, which has severed their social connections with the world outside their homes.
The videos offer these women, some of whom are poorly educated, a suitable outlet for depression or loneliness when family relations become strained.
It doesn’t matter that the swindlers chose Jin Dong, even though he is the perfect bait.
The real problem is finding an outlet for depression and emotions for people, female or male, who need to vent negative feelings and get closer to the people they really love.