Digital Human Livestreaming Slot Fee Scam: The AI Livestreaming Prepayment Trap

Who Gets Targeted

Victims fall into two main categories: SMEs desperate to clear inventory, who are misled by promises of 'millions in sales' and lured by AI buzzwords and fake case studies, only to discover contract traps and refusal of refunds after payment; and consumers unfamiliar with livestreaming tactics, particularly the elderly, who are drawn in by AI-generated visuals of 'low-price sales' and 'factory-direct' offers. Their shared psychological vulnerabilities include a desire for low-cost customer acquisition, blind faith in AI visualization, and a lack of ability to verify livestreaming contract terms or data authenticity, often realizing they have been targeted only after repeated follow-ups.

骗局怎么运作

• Packaging as a professional MCN agency: Scammers post 'success stories' of AI virtual streamers on short-video platforms, using forged backend sales data and fan growth charts to create a 'passive income' persona. They proactively message SMEs struggling with sales, using pitches like 'AI streamers as human replacements' and '24/7 non-stop streaming,' dangling fake benefits like low acquisition costs, high conversion rates, and limited slots to entice merchants.
• Collecting high prepayments or slot fees: Once a merchant shows interest, the salesperson sends a seemingly formal contract promising 'guaranteed monthly sales' or 'refunds if targets are not met.' The contract contains harsh clauses, such as attributing 'data anomalies' or 'user complaints' to the company's side while shifting liability to the merchant if they cannot prove otherwise. Salespeople create urgency by claiming 'peak season slots are tight' or 'competitors have already booked,' demanding tens of thousands of yuan in prepayments, often to personal or shell company accounts.
• Generating fake livestreams with AI in bulk: After receiving payment, scammers use open-source or low-cost digital human tools to input the merchant's product images and pre-recorded scripts, generating AI livestream footage with blurred backgrounds and no real people. They then use scripts to manage comments, fake viewer counts, and perform self-purchases followed by immediate refunds to create the illusion of 'hot sales.' A single stream might result in only one or two real sales, but merchants cannot access real-time backend data.
• Delaying refunds with 'operation cycles': When merchants complain about poor sales, scammers use excuses like 'the account needs warming up,' 'the short-video cover isn't attractive,' or 'the product is overpriced,' suggesting that an additional 'traffic fee' is needed to boost performance. If the merchant refuses, they cite contract clauses regarding 'number of streams' rather than 'sales volume,' claiming they have 'fulfilled the agreed number of sessions' and refusing refunds. This process drags on for two to three weeks until the merchant loses patience.
• Dissolving the company and rebranding: When complaints accumulate, platforms intervene, or merchants report the fraud, scammers pause communication citing 'poor management' or 'team turnover.' They then dissolve the original company and transfer unsettled funds to a new affiliated entity. They use the same templates to register a new 'AI livestreaming' brand and move to a new studio to recruit more merchants. Since prepayments are often transferred to personal accounts or third-party payment channels, tracing the funds is extremely difficult.

红旗信号（看到这些快跑）

• 🚩 Promises of 'guaranteed sales' without third-party guarantees, with vague refund conditions in the contract.
• 🚩 Requests for prepayments to be made directly to personal accounts or unknown shell company accounts.
• 🚩 Claims of using AI virtual streamers while refusing to provide copyright proof or usage authorization for the digital human.
• 🚩 Abnormal livestream backend data, such as consistently high viewer counts but negligible real orders, with no support for remote monitoring by the merchant.
• 🚩 Salespeople are overly attentive before payment but become unresponsive or unreachable via customer service lines afterward.

真实案例

• In August 2026, Guangming Online reported on 'AI livestreaming without visible goods': A company used AI digital humans for sales without real hosts or physical product displays, using virtual avatars to solicit prepayments and develop downlines. Police uncovered a three-tier pyramid scheme, and those involved were subjected to mandatory measures.
• In February 2026, the Langya District Market Supervision Bureau in Chuzhou, Anhui, received reports that an AI virtual influencer named 'Fang Taozi' was involved in false advertising. The relevant video was ordered to be taken down, and the case was referred for further investigation.
• In March 2026, CNR investigated the chaos in 'AI automated livestreaming' training: A training institution charged students thousands to tens of thousands of yuan for 'making millions with AI automated sales,' providing only template-based AI materials. There were no real success stories, and students found the office empty when they requested refunds.

Official Stance

• In August 2026, Guangming Online issued a consumer alert regarding AI livestreaming, highlighting the use of fabricated sales data and pyramid-style operations disguised as prepayments, warning merchants to be wary of 'pay-first, stream-later' models.
• In March 2026, a CNR investigation team exposed the chaos in 'AI automated livestreaming' training, warning consumers against courses promising 'passive income' and advising them to verify the business qualifications of such institutions.
• In August 2026, China Youth Net shared police warnings exposing the three-tier pyramid scheme in AI livestreaming, urging the public to remain vigilant against high-guaranteed-return schemes.

How to Protect Yourself

• ✅ Before signing, use platforms like Tianyancha or Qichacha to verify the company's registered capital, paid-in capital, and judicial history. Ensure they are a legitimate operating entity and confirm their business scope includes livestreaming e-commerce.
• ✅ Reject any 'prepayment before reconciliation' requirements. Prefer a 'commission based on actual sales' model and use third-party payment platforms to escrow funds.
• ✅ Ensure the contract clearly specifies 'quantifiable KPIs,' 'refund triggers,' and 'dispute resolution methods.' Keep records of livestream backend data and take screenshots to facilitate potential legal action.
• ✅ If contact is lost, report to the police immediately, file a complaint with the local Market Supervision Bureau, and notify the platform to freeze the counterparty's account.