Saturday, June 21, 2025

Fake Royalty? Chinese Influencers Claim to Be Middle Eastern Royals to Sell Products, Get Busted

Douyin
Douyin

In China, several social media accounts belonging to influencers who pretended to be Middle Eastern royals to sell products have been deleted.

On Friday, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that influencer accounts were suspended from social media platforms after foreign actors were hired to impersonate Middle Eastern princes and princesses and sell low-quality merchandise.

Luo Jialin, an influencer with 100,000 followers on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), appeared in a video with a man who appeared to be of Arab descent in front of a luxurious villa. In the video, she said, “My husband is a young prince from a wealthy and influential Saudi family,” and added, “I’m over four months pregnant.”

She announced plans to move to Saudi Arabia with her husband soon, stating she would return billions of yuan worth of assets to her fans at a loss.

During the livestream, Luo reportedly sold various items, including what she marketed as “French perfume” and “British royal detergent,” all priced under 50 yuan (approximately $7).

However, viewers grew skeptical, questioning why royalty was supposed to sell ordinary products instead of luxury goods. Eventually, the broadcasters were removed from the stream.

Another influencer, donning traditional Middle Eastern attire and a headscarf, appeared with a man seemingly from Dubai. She claimed to be liquidating her assets due to a divorce from her husband.

During this livestream, 300 pairs of stockings were sold for 6 yuan (approximately $0.82) each, while over 1,000 orders were placed for 2 kg of “British detergent” at 6.99 yuan (approximately $1).

As the controversy escalated, the Chinese community in Dubai released a statement asserting that no royal family from Arab nations had ever authorized live sales in China.

A Weibo user criticized these influencers for exploiting their followers’ admiration and curiosity towards successful, wealthy elites. Another user described it as a scam targeting middle-aged individuals who lack judgment.

An influencer who claimed to have genuinely married a Middle Eastern individual commented, “There aren’t actually that many so-called wealthy tycoons in the Middle East,” adding, “True aristocrats tend to stay out of the spotlight and rarely appear on social media.”

Hot this week

Japan’s Steel Giant Takes Over US Steel: What It Means for American Workers

Nippon Steel acquires U.S. Steel for $14.1 billion, ensuring U.S. government oversight and maintaining its headquarters in Pittsburgh.

Trump’s Ultimatum to Iran Jolts Oil Prices into Unsteady Climb

Oil prices rose slightly as markets reacted to Trump's ultimatum to Iran, with WTI and Brent crude experiencing minor gains.

Wall Street Wobbles After Powell Says No Rush on Rate Cuts

U.S. markets closed mixed after the Fed maintained interest rates, with tech stocks like Tesla and Nvidia gaining amid cautious investor sentiment.

Apple Joins Google in Map Export Request, Vows Flexible Compliance

Apple seeks South Korean approval to export high-precision map data, offering to accommodate government demands unlike Google.

Wall Street Takes a Dive as Tensions Rise Over Iran

The New York stock market fell sharply due to rising tensions in the Middle East and declines in major tech and solar stocks.

Topics

Japan’s Steel Giant Takes Over US Steel: What It Means for American Workers

Nippon Steel acquires U.S. Steel for $14.1 billion, ensuring U.S. government oversight and maintaining its headquarters in Pittsburgh.

Trump’s Ultimatum to Iran Jolts Oil Prices into Unsteady Climb

Oil prices rose slightly as markets reacted to Trump's ultimatum to Iran, with WTI and Brent crude experiencing minor gains.

Wall Street Wobbles After Powell Says No Rush on Rate Cuts

U.S. markets closed mixed after the Fed maintained interest rates, with tech stocks like Tesla and Nvidia gaining amid cautious investor sentiment.

Apple Joins Google in Map Export Request, Vows Flexible Compliance

Apple seeks South Korean approval to export high-precision map data, offering to accommodate government demands unlike Google.

Wall Street Takes a Dive as Tensions Rise Over Iran

The New York stock market fell sharply due to rising tensions in the Middle East and declines in major tech and solar stocks.

Brent and WTI Climb Following Heightened Concerns Over Iran Conflict

Oil prices surged amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with fears of disruptions to Iranian oil exports following Trump's return.

Why Stablecoins Struggle to Compete with Credit Cards in America

Stablecoins lack consumer incentives compared to credit cards, limiting adoption despite potential in specific payment areas.

Wall Street Bounces Back: Stocks Rally Amid Iran-Israel Ceasefire Hopes

US stock indices rebounded on the 16th as reports emerged of Iran seeking negotiations amidst ongoing conflicts.

Related Articles