Chinese influencer faked $150,000 flood donation, Red Cross confirms only 15 cents offered
On September 12, a livestream by Chinese social media star Li Wei claimed to have donated 1u202fmillion yuan (about $150,000) to aid communities devastated by Typhoon Huanan. The claim sparked nationwide outrage when the Red Cross audit found no trace of the funds. The incident highlights the growing problem of online philanthropy fraud. It also raises questions about the regulatory oversight of influencer‑led charity campaigns.
What Happened
Li Wei posted a 15‑minute video on her TikTok account that showed a cardboard donation box labeled "Donation" with a 1u202fmillion yuan note inside. She announced that the money would be transferred to the local Red Cross office in Zhejiang province. However, a 24‑hour audit conducted by the Red Cross found only 15 cents in the donation account, and no record of a 1u202fmillion yuan transfer. According to an account to Xinhua, the Red Cross’s finance officer confirmed that the bank statements did not reflect any large inflow. The influencer’s bank records also show no outbound transfer matching the claimed amount. The discrepancy between the public claim and the financial evidence suggests that the donation was fabricated.nnThe Red Cross spokesperson stated that the donation was never verified by any financial institution, and that the platform’s verification process for charitable claims was not followed. This lack of due diligence allowed the false claim to go viral before being debunked. The incident underscores the need for stricter verification protocols for influencer‑led fundraising.nnThe video was shared over 5 million times in the first 48 hours, and the influencer’s followers were urged to donate through a link that led to a fake donation page. The page collected only 15 cents from 12 users before being taken down by the platform. The Red Cross has now opened an internal review into how the claim was allowed to circulate.nnThe case is the latest in a series of incidents where influencers have promoted charitable causes without proper oversight, leading to public distrust.nnThe investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking into potential fraud charges against the influencer. The Red Cross is also reviewing its partnership protocols with social media personalities.nnThe incident has sparked a debate about the responsibilities of platforms, influencers, and charities in ensuring transparency.nnThe Red Cross has urged donors to verify the legitimacy of charity claims before contributing.nnThe influencer’s official statement, released on September 15, denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the donation had been delayed due to "bank processing errors".nnThe audit report, released by the Red Cross on September 16, confirms that no funds matching the claimed amount were deposited.nnThe incident demonstrates how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital
A 2023 study found that
