Recently, more details have emerged about a scam involving health products targeting the elderly in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, mainland China. The criminal group involved in the scam packaged food products primarily containing maltodextrin as “miraculous anti-cancer medicine,” with a total manufacturing cost of less than 30 yuan (RMB) for a box of 30 bottles, but selling them at prices as high as 6000 yuan, leading some elderly individuals to spend over 100,000 yuan within half a year.
According to a report by the state-sanctioned Chinese media on October 17, the perpetrators used the names “Chinese time-honored brand – Intangible Cultural Heritage Chinese Medicine Pavilion” and “State-owned Quality Life” to sell the so-called “internally supplied health products” to the elderly.
Among them, the “snake bile taurine freeze-dried powder” was claimed to “stabilize blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, regulate various ailments, prevent cancer, and extend life.” The speakers even claimed that the product could improve conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer.
The manufacturer confirmed that the implicated products were food items with maltodextrin as the main ingredient. The police stated that the individual bottle’s production cost was less than 1 yuan, but they were being sold at retail prices ranging from tens to 200 yuan. Calculated for a box of 30 bottles, the total manufacturing cost was less than 30 yuan, while selling prices ranged from over a thousand yuan to a maximum of 6000 yuan.
The case was made public in June of this year. At that time, the Liwan police in Guangzhou reported the arrest of 120 individuals involved in the scam, with 108 of them being criminally detained, and the amount involved exceeding 5 million yuan.
According to the report, the salespersons targeted elderly individuals living alone, primarily aged 70 and above, in communities, markets, and near hospitals. They gained trust by assisting with shopping, cleaning, and giving gifts such as eggs and noodles.
They would also collect the elderly’s addresses, retirement pension details, and health conditions and compile daily reports. The so-called “experts” based on this information would falsely claim to diagnose accurately, even stating that the elderly individuals had reached the “Level 2 of senile dementia” and were on the verge of entering Level 3, creating fear to push product sales.
These “expert instructors” lacked medical qualifications and took turns conducting lectures and “consultations” at various venues, splitting profits with the locations. Store staff were responsible for home visits, enticing elderly individuals, and collecting payments.
In a reported case from June, a 79-year-old woman named Guo stated that the so-called “expert” claimed she had various health issues that could lead to a significant problem if not addressed promptly, which made her fearful. She subsequently purchased products worth 40,000 yuan, and when her family requested a refund, the other party kept evading the request.
Another elderly individual suffering from diabetes mentioned that he spent over 60,000 yuan on related products, but after using them for over half a year without any effect, when he confronted the seller, he was told he did not consume enough and needed to continue purchasing products.
In early 2026, an elderly resident in Guangzhou spent over 100,000 yuan on related products within less than half a year, and when the family requested a refund, it was rejected.
The perpetrators would also instruct the elderly not to inform their children, and they prohibited recording audio or video during lectures. When faced with refund requests, they would delay or only refund a partial amount. If they sensed the elderly might report them to the authorities, they would agree to a “private settlement” for the refund.
Researcher He Li from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Nutrition and Health Institute stated that if health products claim to “treat hypertension,” “lower blood sugar,” or “reduce uric acid,” it constitutes false advertising.