Woman condemns China influencer for selling bogus ‘anti-cancer’ product after mother spends life savings
A skincare testing expert in China has exposed a social media influencer for falsely selling “anti-cancer” skin products to her sick mother.
A skincare efficacy testing engineer, nicknamed Huahua, borrowed 200,000 yuan (US$28,000) for surgery for her cancer-stricken mother, whose health was deteriorating.
Huahua was forced to borrow the money after she discovered her mother had spent her entire savings on an oral liquid sold by a key opinion leader, or KOL, Zhang Qi, who claimed it had cancer-fighting properties.
On April 19, Huahua said to Zhang in a video: “I beg you to stop cheating my mum out of her money.”
Zhang, 33, from Jiangsu province in eastern China, gained 1 million followers on Douyin by selling his “anti-cancer” product.
He claimed it could prevent the disease, and also treat heart conditions and cervical tumours.
During a live-stream, Zhang performed an experiment, which he claimed showed that his product contained collagen.
He poured alcohol into the oral liquid, stirred it, and scooped out a gelatinous substance.
“This is the nutritious collagen in our product,” he said.
His live-streams often attract up to 10,000 viewers, predominantly elderly people.
“Why should you buy my products? Not because of me, but for yourself. What you’re buying is your health and safety for the rest of your life,” Zhang told his audience.
“I sell this product to benefit humanity. I am spreading positive energy.”
In other videos he boasted about his two luxury cars and a villa he owned.
He claimed that by selling anti-cancer products during his live-streaming, he could earn two million yuan (US$276,000) in one night.
As a skincare efficacy testing engineer, Huahua investigated the anti-cancer compound sold by Zhang and found no evidence to support his claims.
She also revealed that the “experiment” Zhang conducted involved a thickening agent.
However, the elderly audience lacked the scientific knowledge to challenge Zhang’s claims.
“You exploit the elderly’s fear of death to make money. This is illegal,” Huahua told Zhang.
In China, false advertising is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to two years and a fine.
All of Zhang’s Douyin account content has been removed, and he has been muted by the social media platform.
“Zhang makes money without conscience, potentially endangering the health or even lives of innocent people,” one online observer said.
“My mum also bought a similar product that claimed to make paralysed people walk. I could not convince her otherwise,” another said.
From health supplements to miracle medicines that claim to cure everything, China’s elderly are often the target for fraudulent live-stream sales.
Last year, several influencers on Douyin promoted a liquid supplement they claimed could cure diabetes, suggesting users would not need other medication or insulin.
The influencers wore white lab coats and pretended to be medical professionals even though they were not, while marketing their products in live-streams.
They attracted about 78,000, mostly elderly, followers.
China’s authorities later discovered that the product was simply an ordinary drink with no medicinal properties. As a result, all related live-stream accounts were blocked.
