1.8 Billion Won Revenue: The 'Poor Middle Mountain Village Maiden' Was Fake

Excessive Profiteering in Agricultural Product Sales Exposed Through Staged Video
Chinese Public Security Shuts Down Company and Seizes Remaining Fake Honey

China's 'poor mountain village maiden' was a fake. Chinese public security authorities arrested 54 members of a gang, including Wanghong (網紅, Chinese online influencers), who made huge profits by selling low-quality agricultural products through emotional manipulation.

They are accused of producing fake videos, posting them on social media (SNS), appealing to emotions by urging support for struggling rural areas, and selling agricultural products at high prices, thereby illegally gaining 10 million yuan (about 1.8 billion KRW).

Chinese influencer Liang Sanmengyang arrested on fraud charges. [Photo by Douyin]

According to local media such as Fengmian News on the 21st, the Public Security Bureau of Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province arrested Wanghong with 2 to 3 million followers on charges of fraud.

The Wanghong include 11 people such as 'Liangshan Mengyang', 'Zhao Ling'er', and 'Liangshan Qiubu', along with a total of 54 people including those affiliated with their one-person media companies.

Liangshan Mengyang (21) gained popularity by showing herself struggling with farming in a poor mountain village in Liangshan. With a darkly tanned face and a constant smile, she regularly posted videos on SNS showing her bright and optimistic daily life.

Beloved by netizens, she emphasized during online live broadcasts that the agricultural products were grown by herself and sold them.

Also, Zhao Ling'er gained popularity after posting videos of farming and sold agricultural products. He consistently posted videos saying he met a kind and simple rural bachelor, Liangshan Qiubu, while traveling in Liangshan.

After their followers exceeded 2 million, they opened online stores and conducted broadcasts to sell agricultural products, achieving sales of 700,000 yuan (about 130 million KRW) in seven months.

Later, netizens expressed suspicion after spotting Liangshan Mengyang dressed in luxurious clothes.

Eventually, the public security authorities launched an investigation. They revealed that these individuals were celebrities affiliated with one-person media companies who filmed scripted videos according to well-planned scenarios. It was also uncovered that they bought agricultural products cheaply from various places and sold them as local specialties at high prices.

Chinese influencer Liang Sanmengyang arrested on fraud charges. [Photo by Douyin]

The public security authorities shut down 14 companies operated by them, seized 20 tons of fake honey and other products left unsold, and froze 5 million yuan (about 900 million KRW) in funds.

As the fraudulent activities of one-person media became a social issue, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China strengthened crackdowns in July on one-person media that exaggerate social issues, spread harmful information, rumors, vulgar and sensational videos causing social harm.

Internet platforms were also ordered to manage problematic one-person media by adding them to blacklist databases and report them to authorities.

Subsequently, Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok) accounts of famous Wanghong, including Shucai with 12 million followers, were shut down one after another for violations of regulations. Earlier, on the 18th of last month, the Douyin account of Wanghong 'Erlu' with 48 million followers was closed.