The legal route of “buying insurance for a family member first, then harming them” is completely blocked: you get zero money, and the perpetrator faces multiple charges including intentional homicide and insurance fraud.

38. The legal route of “buying insurance for a family member first, then harming them” is completely blocked: you get zero money, and the perpetrator faces multiple charges including intentional homicide and insurance fraud.

Cost: No cost at all.

In plain terms: All four possible pathways are shut down. Buying life insurance for a loved one without their knowledge renders the policy invalid. If the policyholder deliberately causes the insured’s death, the insurer pays nothing. Intentionally killing an heir also results in loss of inheritance rights. Chinese law treats such insurance fraud as a separate crime, which is punished alongside intentional homicide — up to the death penalty. In short, you walk away with absolutely no compensation. Exactly 1000000 people are affected by such illegal acts.

Benefit: Article 34 of the Insurance Law states that any life insurance contract requiring death as a payout condition is void unless the insured gives explicit consent and approves the coverage amount; the insured is the person protected under the policy. This rule does not apply when parents purchase insurance for minor children. Article 39 requires policyholder consent when naming a beneficiary — the policyholder pays the premiums while the beneficiary receives payouts after a claim. Article 43 specifically addresses intentional harm: if a policyholder deliberately causes death, injury, or illness, the insurer is exempt from paying out; any premiums paid for over two years are refunded to other rightful claimants. Likewise, a beneficiary who attempts or succeeds in harming the insured loses all rights to benefits. Article 27, paragraph 2, further stipulates that if either party intentionally triggers a claim, the insurer may void the contract and withhold all premiums, except under Article 43. Under Article 1125 of the Civil Code, anyone who intentionally kills an heir forfeits inheritance rights. Article 198, paragraph 1, item 5, of the Criminal Law classifies “intentionally causing death, injury, or illness to secure insurance payouts” as insurance fraud; penalties range from fines up to 100000 RMB for smaller sums to life imprisonment for larger ones. Paragraph 2 adds that when this act overlaps with intentional homicide, both crimes are punished concurrently. Article 232 prescribes the death penalty, life imprisonment, or at least ten years in prison for intentional homicide. A real-world example is the Zhang Mosong case in Xuancheng, Anhui: in July 2016, he drove into a pond, killing his wife; just two weeks prior, he had taken out four 1-million RMB life insurance policies on her. Captured on July 25, he was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve and fined 50000 RMB after being convicted of both intentional homicide and insurance fraud.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2015 revision). Articles 27, 34, 39, and 43 of the Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China. <https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf7c4060811>; National People's Congress (2020). Civil Code of the People's Republic of China Article 1125. <https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808081729d1efe01729d50b5c500bf>; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (Consolidated text as amended by the Eleventh Amendment to the Criminal Law) Article 198, Article 232. <https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181796a636a0179822a19640c92>; Anhui Provincial People’s Procuratorate reprinted in "Legal Daily" (2020-01-13). Killing his wife and defrauding her insurance was involved in the case (A typical case of civil false litigation supervision by the Anhui Provincial People's Procuratorate). <http://www.ah.jcy.gov.cn/jczt/jjslhyqkjc/mtjj/202001/t20200113_2758841.shtml>

Notes: In this scenario, the policyholder is also the intended beneficiary; the primary aim is to avoid a death sentence or life imprisonment. The case details and verdict are drawn verbatim from official prosecutorial materials; no investigative specifics beyond what is publicly documented are included. Fraudulent claims involving non‑fatal incidents — such as staged accidents or inflated damages — are also illegal and punishable, including accomplices; see Section 9, Article 21 for further information. Purchasing insurance for family members is perfectly lawful; this article targets only those who plan to harm them after securing coverage. Impulsive urges to harm loved ones should be treated as medical emergencies; refer to Section 14 and 15 for related guidance.