“Discounted Limited Edition Sneakers at 20% Off? Uncovering the Secrets Behind These Live Streaming Scams”
In recent years, live streaming sales have become a major trend in the e-commerce industry, offering convenience to consumers while also presenting opportunities for fraudsters. Some unscrupulous sellers exploit the allure of “limited editions” and “one-of-a-kind” items, selling sneakers at prices as low as 20% of their retail value, all while claiming authenticity.
Our investigation reveals an alarming trend: more consumers are discovering issues with the sneakers they’ve purchased. Scanning the QR codes on the shoes often leads only to the company’s official website, leaving them unable to verify the products’ authenticity. When complaints result in their live streams being shut down, these sellers simply set up new accounts to continue their operations.
Shoes that cost around 100 yuan are being sold in these live streams for prices ranging from 600 to 1000 yuan, with total sales exceeding 2,500 pairs at the height of this operation.
**Counterfeit Sneakers in Live Streams**
In response to growing concerns, some defrauded consumers have reported their experiences to the police. In June, the Pudong police in Shanghai established a special task force, engaging in extensive field investigations to uncover a criminal gang operating across Fujian and Guangdong provinces. They uncovered a robust supply chain for counterfeit sneakers, from production to sales.
By September, the task force successfully apprehended nine key operators, including individuals named Weng, Qiu, and Xu. They dismantled three locations producing and selling counterfeit sneakers and seized over 900 pairs of fake brand-name athletic shoes on site.
Following thorough investigative work and interrogations, all suspects confessed to their crimes. Preliminary audits revealed that the total amount involved in this case reached 1.62 million yuan. The Pudong police have since instituted criminal coercive measures against the nine suspects involved. (CCTV Finance)
**Reported by: Tian Boqun**
