Woman's fake pregnancy stunt falls flat

A woman in China who pretended to be pregnant so she could get a seat on train was found out when the fake stomach she was wearing slipped out of her shirt and fell to the floor.

The woman, named as Zhang, had constructed the ruse in a bid to encourage train passengers to give up their seats.

The fraud was discovered when the fake silicon stomach she paid about $50 for failed, according to The Beijing News.

Unfazed, Zhang then complained to her local fair trading bureau about the poor quality of the stomach.

Zhang claimed the belt tying it to her waist came loose, leaving her “found out and mocked” by other passengers, The South China Morning Post said.

Her complaint was rejected.

Zhang has been criticised for a “shameless” and “disgraceful” stunt.

China’s People’s Daily asked “who exactly shows the poor quality?”

A report in Want China Times says fake pregnancy bellies have become a hot online shopping item in the country.

"Shoppers use the items — among other reasons — for faking a pregnancy before adopting a child, to avoid being laid off at work, and to enjoy the privileges to which pregnant women are accustomed."