Questions asked over crowdfunding
Effort to raise money for cross-talk performer sparks controversy
A crowdfunding effort aimed at paying the medical bills of Beijing cross-talk performer Wu Shuai has fueled a nationwide debate about how far websites should go in verifying the financial status of users seeking donations online.
The latest in many such campaigns involving limited disclosure of assets, the attempt has renewed concerns that requests for financial aid by individuals could easily become e-scams or e-begging if not monitored correctly.
Wu, 34, a member of Beijing comic group Deyunshe and whose stage name is Wu Hechen, was hospitalized last month after he had a cerebral hemorrhage.
Early this month, his wife, Zhang Hongyi, launched a fundraising project on Shuidichou, one of China's most popular crowdfunding platforms, which is favored by financially strapped rural families, most of whom fall outside the social security net.
To demonstrate that her needs were genuine, Zhang posted Wu's personal details and medical records on the website. She set a target for 1 million yuan ($145,500) to be raised, the highest sum that can be requested on the platform.
Public scrutiny began to intensify after netizens found that the Wu family, identified on Shuidichou as a registered impoverished family, owns a car and two apartments in Beijing, a city known for its high housing prices. It was also discovered that Wu was covered by health insurance.
Many people have accused the family of abusing Shuidichou for financial gain, while others blame the platform for failing to verify Zhang's financial status.
On May 4, Zhang said she would soon declare all her family's assets to prove her innocence.
She said the two apartments are held in the name of Wu's father and grandfather, and cannot be sold. She also relies heavily on the car, as she has to take care of Wu and her paralyzed father-in-law, who lives far from the hospital.
A statement released on May 5 by the Beijing Hubao Tech Co, which runs Shuidichou, said Zhang had asked two days earlier for the crowdfunding effort to be suspended.
The company said Zhang has not asked to withdraw the money that had been raised－147,959 yuan. It also said there was no legal procedure it could comply with to verify Zhang's claims.
Shuidichou, which began operating in 2016, has allowed millions of poor patients to seek financial aid. Users share stories about their difficulties, post their medical records, set a fundraising target, and are allocated a donation page that can be forwarded to social platforms such as WeChat.
