Woman condemns China influencer for selling bogus ‘anti-cancer’ product after mother spends life savings
- KOL sells liquid ‘cure’ via live-streams, boasts he earns US$276,000 a night
- Expert probes fake ‘experiment’, finds no evidence to support claims
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.
