A cancer patient in China, who garnered widespread sympathy and raised over 700,000 yuan (Rs 81.64 lakh) for medical treatment, now faces allegations of embezzlement after sharing images of a newly purchased flat.
Lan, a 29-year-old from Yichang in Hubei province, launched his campaign on October 14 to combat Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a rare and challenging form of cancer. He added that he worked for a large internet company before his diagnosis.
The campaign circulated widely, with videos detailing his struggles, pleas shared in alumni groups at Nanjing University, and his bank account details made public.
He cited financial devastation caused by his late father's medical expenses as the impetus for seeking 900,000 yuan (Rs 1.05 crore) in donations, South China Morning Post reported.
His story initially drew widespread support, raising over 700,000 yuan within days. However, suspicions arose on November 6 when Lan shared photos of a newly acquired flat in a group chat, claiming it cost 738,000 yuan. “This is my new home,” he wrote, triggering a backlash among donors.
Adding to the skepticism were revelations from an old marriage advertisement by Lan, which disclosed his family owned multiple properties worth millions, including commercial property generating an annual rental income of 145,000 yuan.
These claims stood in stark contrast to Lan’s profile on the crowdfunding platform, where he portrayed himself as financially distressed, with only a modest property and a car allegedly up for sale.
By November 7, the crowdfunding platform terminated Lan’s campaign and recovered all funds, totalling 278,204 yuan, from 4,536 contributors. “In accordance with platform rules, all funds raised by Lan have been fully recovered and will be refunded to the donors,” the platform stated, adding that Lan is now permanently banned and blacklisted as a "discredited fundraiser."
Lan, however, denied any misuse of funds. He claimed to have deposited 200,000 yuan in a fixed-term savings account and asserted that the donations were not used to purchase real estate.
Public reaction has been scathing. “He has lost his chance to freeload, but his deception could make more people hesitant to donate to those genuinely in need,” said one individual.
The incident, first reported by Red Star News, has highlighted the need for stricter oversight in charity crowdfunding, a system increasingly vulnerable to exploitation.
It is unclear whether Lan will face any legal repurcussions.
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