A property developer in Southwest China's Chongqing caught flak from local transit authorities after he put up a fake sign for an upcoming metro stop in order to attract more interest from buyers, local media reported on Monday.

The green sign for the "Jinzhou Dadao Station" so closely resembled others used by the Chongqing Metro system that it reportedly sent duped locals searching for the station.

That is, until they read the fine print, "To be open in 2017."

Located on Jinzhou Avenue, the development sits adjacent to the city's planned Line 5, now under construction not far from the posted sign.

It will be a long time before the project is completed, construction workers said.

While some property developers pay to name a station after construction is completed, this was the first time a property developer set up a sign before it was finished, said a Chong- qing Rail Transit employee.

The signpost could mislead passengers and it should be removed, said the employee.