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A 29-year-old cancer patient from China, surnamed Lan, has been banned from a crowdfunding platform amid suspicions of embezzling money raised for his medical treatment. Lan, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, launched a fundraising campaign in October 2024 seeking 900,000 yuan (approximately US$125,000) to cover his medical expenses. Within days, he raised over 700,000 yuan (US$97,000) from generous donors.
Lan, a university graduate from Nanjing, claimed his family was financially burdened by his father's medical bills and subsequent death, leaving them in significant debt. He posted videos and shared bank account details to solicit donations, with his campaign circulating widely on social media and alumni groups. However, suspicions arose when, on November 6, he shared photos of a newly purchased flat in a group chat, stating the total cost was 738,000 yuan (US$102,000). This raised questions about whether the funds had been misused.
Further investigation revealed that Lan's family owned multiple properties, including residential flats worth up to one million yuan (US$140,000) and commercial property generating rental income. However, his crowdfunding profile only mentioned a single property and a car he claimed was up for sale, which seemed inconsistent with his stated financial hardship.
As a result, the crowdfunding platform suspended his account on November 7, after he had received over 270,000 yuan from 4,536 donors. The platform confirmed that all raised funds were recovered and refunded to contributors, and Lan was added to a blacklist, permanently banned from raising funds on the site. Lan later claimed that he deposited 200,000 yuan into a fixed-term savings account and denied using the donations for real estate purchases.
The incident has sparked public outrage and raised concerns about transparency in charity crowdfunding. Many donors expressed distrust, fearing that similar cases might discourage people from contributing to those genuinely in need. One commenter stated, “His deception could make more people hesitant to donate.” Another shared, “I only donate to people I know well and trust.” The case has highlighted the challenges in ensuring accountability in online fundraising campaigns.
