Failed Online Payment Exposes Man’s Extramarital Affair in China

Guangdong, China — A failed online transaction for the purchase of contraceptive pills inadvertently exposed a man’s extramarital affair, ultimately leading to the breakdown of two families, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.

The incident occurred in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, where the man bought contraceptive pills worth approximately 200 rupees (15.8 yuan) from a local pharmacy. He attempted to complete the payment using a mobile app linked to his membership card, but due to technical issues, the transaction failed.

In an attempt to resolve the matter, pharmacy staff called the phone number associated with the man’s membership account. The call, however, was mistakenly received by his wife. When she inquired about the purchase, the staff informed her that it was for contraceptive pills. This disclosure led to the revelation of her husband’s extramarital relationship.

The man later accused the pharmacy staff of being responsible for the collapse of his marriage and submitted the purchase receipt along with a report filed on August 12 at the Pinyang Police Station under the Gaoxing Branch of the Yangjiang Public Security Bureau.

Legal experts, however, suggest the man has limited grounds for pursuing legal action. Fu Jian, Director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, told Elephant News that the core reason for the family’s breakdown was the husband’s betrayal, for which he must bear responsibility. “If the pharmacy has violated his privacy, they could face legal consequences. However, the husband must provide clear evidence linking the staff’s disclosure directly to the collapse of his family,” Fu noted.

Fu added that the phone call itself appeared lawful and was intended to resolve a transaction, not to disclose personal information. “This makes it difficult for the man to claim that his rights were violated,” he explained.

The case follows another high-profile incident in China, where a woman secretly installed a hidden camera in her husband’s rented home and exposed his affair with his employer by posting videos online. Although a court ordered the removal of the videos, the employer’s demand for compensation and a public apology was rejected.