Smart elderly care watches disguise health monitoring to deduct high subscription fees

Who Gets Targeted

The primary victims are retirees over 60 and their children, particularly those living in second- and third-tier cities who lack digital literacy and suffer from health anxiety, including those living alone or in empty-nest households. Most victims are aged 60 to 70. Concerned about their health and craving attention from their children, they are easily lured by tactics like 'free physical exams,' 'health monitoring,' or 'getting eggs for 1 yuan.' They often lack awareness regarding payment authorization and automatic renewals, frequently trusting streamers and customer service agents posing as doctors. Once hit with hidden high subscription fees or tricked into buying fake health products, losses are difficult to recover. Similar private-domain livestreaming scams targeting the elderly have spread nationwide, with total involved amounts exceeding 30 million yuan (media estimate, not independently verified).

骗局怎么运作

• Fraud rings establish fake health technology companies, create prototypes of sophisticated-looking watches, and run promotional videos on platforms like WeChat and Douyin. They exaggerate features such as 24-hour heart rate, blood pressure, and real-time fall detection, claiming the first month is free and using keywords like 'elderly benefits' and 'government subsidies' to lure seniors into clicking links.
• After victims are induced to provide personal information in a livestream or private chat, they receive a watch that matches the promotional appearance but contains only a basic pedometer chip with no connection to any medical monitoring platform. Subsequently, the app frequently pushes pop-ups prompting users to activate 'premium monitoring services,' inducing them to pay.
• Once the victim pays, the system automatically binds the phone's payment password or uses 'one-click authorization' to deduct the first month's subscription fee, typically ranging from 300 to 800 yuan, followed by automatic monthly renewals. If not cancelled in time, costs can accumulate to thousands of yuan.
• Exploiting the elderly's lack of technical familiarity, the fraud team sets up hotlines with fake professional doctors who claim 'device anomalies' or 'need for upgrades' to induce further payments for fake services like health reports or remote consultations, creating a chain of multiple charges.
• Once victims request a refund or raise concerns, the fraud organization often uses excuses like 'service already activated and irreversible' or 'penalty fees must be paid first' to delay processing or block the victim, making it difficult to trace funds and resulting in a high-cost, long-term subscription trap.

红旗信号（看到这些快跑）

• 🚩 Exaggerated technical claims in promotions, such as 'hospital-grade' heart rate or blood pressure monitoring, without providing any authoritative test reports or third-party certifications.
• 🚩 Extremely limited 'free trial' spots that require providing bank card information or binding a payment password upfront.
• 🚩 Urgency tactics in livestreams or private chats, such as forced purchases, limited-time discounts, or 'pay before shipping' requirements.
• 🚩 Frequent pop-ups within the app for 'activating premium monitoring' or 'obtaining health reports' that lack clear service descriptions.
• 🚩 Customer service staff posing as doctors or health consultants who use professional jargon but lack official credentials and consistently deflect refund requests or block users.

真实案例

• In August 2026, a reporter from Shangyou News learned from the Chun'an County Public Security Bureau in Zhejiang Province that a livestreaming fraud case handled by the bureau involved over 30 million yuan and resulted in the arrest of 30 suspects. In early May, Mr. Wang reported that he had spent over 60,000 yuan on antique collectibles in a livestream. Police uncovered a massive cross-regional fraud ring targeting elderly collectors and health-conscious groups. (Source: https://www.sina.cn/news/detail/5328898378172052.html)
• In June 2026, police in Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province, broke up a 30-person livestreaming fraud ring involving over 30 million yuan. The core method involved selling watches labeled as having health monitoring functions while secretly deducting high subscription fees. Most victims were elderly people in rural areas. (Source: https://www.sina.cn/news/detail/5328898378172052.html)
• In July 2026, Guancha.cn reported that the private-domain livestreaming app 'Heima Taotao' marketed a standard smartwatch as a device capable of detecting blood sugar, uric acid, and other health indicators. Tests showed the watch displayed data even when not worn, and in one instance, even detected cholesterol in the air. (Source: https://www.guancha.cn/guanjiankang/2026_07_27_825233.shtml)

Official Stance

• Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, 2025-10-14, released 'Announcement of Typical Cases of False Advertising for Elderly Health Products' (Source: https://scjgj.sh.gov.cn/1073/20251014/2c984a7299dbc4280199e13c75951714.html)

How to Protect Yourself

• ✅ Verify company credentials before purchasing, prioritizing brands that partner with legitimate medical institutions or can be verified through the National Medical Products Administration or the Administration for Market Regulation.
• ✅ Avoid entering payment passwords in unofficial livestreams or via private chat links. Be wary of any 'free trial' that involves upfront deductions.
• ✅ Regularly check mobile payment authorization records. If abnormal charges are found, revoke authorization via the bank or payment platform immediately and save screenshots as evidence for rights protection.
• ✅ If you receive notifications claiming a need for upgrades or additional health reports, contact official customer service or local regulatory authorities directly. Do not trust calls or texts from unknown customer service agents.
• ✅ Join local elderly anti-fraud support groups to share suspicious information and improve collective awareness. Report suspicious activities to the public security authorities immediately.