Disabled Teen Scammed into Breast Surgery Sparks Outrage in China

In a shocking incident that has sparked widespread outrage across China, a 19-year-old intellectually disabled teenager was deceived into undergoing breast augmentation surgery. The young man's mother has taken to television to seek justice, shedding light on the growing problem of scams targeting vulnerable individuals in the country.

The incident occurred in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province and the most populous city in Central China. The teenager, desperate for employment, was lured by false promises of a job at a cosmetic surgery clinic. Scammers convinced him that the procedure would help him gain followers through livestreaming, a major industry in China with over 600 million users as of 2021.

The clinic went as far as persuading the young man to borrow 30,000 yuan (approximately $4,180) to cover the surgery costs. This exploitation of a vulnerable individual has sparked intense discussion on Weibo, China's popular social media platform with over 550 million monthly active users.

"For the sake of money, one can give up one's humanity." "Worse than beasts!"

These comments reflect the deep-seated anger and frustration felt by many Chinese citizens in response to this incident.

The mother's efforts, supported by a television station and lawyers, managed to get the loan cancelled. However, the irreversible damage had already been done, as the breast augmentation surgery had been performed.

This distressing case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of scams targeting young job seekers in China. The country's top legal prosecuting agency reported last year that fraudsters are increasingly focusing on students and recent graduates.

The surge in scams comes at a time when China faces significant economic challenges. In the summer of 2023, a record 11.79 million students graduated, entering a job market grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19, a prolonged property crisis, and cautious consumer spending. The youth unemployment rate hit a record high of 21.3% in June 2022, prompting the government to halt publication of this closely watched benchmark.

President Xi Jinping has expressed concern about the employment prospects of young people, emphasizing it as a top priority. The Communist Party of China, which has ruled the country since 1949, is keenly aware that a job crisis among the youth could potentially test its economic leadership.

In another headline-making scam, a college student seeking part-time work in food delivery was tricked into signing a year-long contract to rent an electric bicycle. This incident involved a staffer at a bike rental shop posing as a recruiter for Meituan, one of China's largest food delivery platforms with over 600 million users.

Alarmingly, the challenging job market has led some young people to turn to scamming themselves. In the first ten months of 2023, there was a 68% annual increase in prosecutions of individuals under 18 for phone and internet scams. The prosecuting agency also noted a rise in young graduates with advanced degrees joining scam syndicates.

As China continues to navigate these complex economic and social challenges, incidents like the one involving the Wuhan teenager serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by many in society. The mother's distress over her son's ordeal echoes the concerns of countless families across the nation, highlighting the urgent need for better protection against such exploitative practices.