Woman Spends Life Savings On Fake 'Anti-Cancer' Drug Sold By Influencer
A cancer-stricken mother in China reportedly spent her entire life savings on an "anti-cancer" oral liquid sold by a social media influencer.
Huahua, a skincare efficacy testing engineer, has exposed key opinion leader Zhang Qi after discovering that her sick mother spent her entire life savings on the "anti-cancer" product sold by the 33-year-old influencer on Douyin, according to South China Morning Post.
After investigating the product sold by Zhang, she reportedly found no evidence supporting his claims that it could prevent diseases and treat heart conditions and cervical tumors.
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After this discovery, she said she had to borrow 200,000 yuan (~$28,000) for her mother's surgery, whose health was deteriorating.
Talking more about Zhang's fake anti-cancer drug, she said that the collagen the influencer claimed to be in his product was a mere thickening agent.
She also noted that aside from her mother, other elderly audiences were "exploited" out of their "fear of death."
Per SCMP, all of Zhang's content, including related streaming accounts on Douyin, has been removed and muted on the Chinese social media platform.
False advertising in China is reportedly punishable by a maximum two-year imprisonment and a fine.
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Before Zhang's Douyin posts and account were removed, he reportedly claimed and boasted that he could earn 2 million yuan (~$276,000) per night, selling his "anti-cancer" products via livestreaming.
He also previously boasted owning a villa and two luxury cars, per SCMP.
"Zhang makes money without conscience, potentially endangering the health or even lives of innocent people," said one netizen, per the media outlet.
Selling fake medicines online has been an issue in China for years. In March 2022, a retired woman in Shanghai reportedly lost 1.5 million yuan (~$236,000) and ended up in debt after being scammed by fake traditional Chinese medicine health services.
She and her friends reportedly ended up using their pensions only to find out that the services they paid for were ineffective.
