Dating platforms exposed for deceiving users

Matchmakers working on several major Chinese dating platforms have been exposed for deceiving users and stirring up anxiety to induce users to purchase expensive membership services, according to a special report by China Media Group on Friday.

In a CMG's investigative program which aired on Friday, or World Consumer Rights Day, matchmakers at major dating platforms such as Zhenai.com and Jiayuan.com were found during internal training to use false descriptions to fabricate "dating partners" that meet their clients' desires, a marketing trick to lure the customers into expensive contracts with these platforms.

Furthermore, these matchmakers were instructed to filter for high-income, high-asset clients based on the consumer's spending habits and savings information.

They were also trained to stir up clients' anxieties about age and fertility through talking tactics, luring consumers into purchasing membership services that cost more than 10,000 yuan ($1,390).

Additionally, these dating platforms claimed to be legitimate, filtering out dishonest members or those with serious illnesses to ensure clients' matrimonial needs.

However, according to the report, internal trainers from Jiayuan.com and Zhenai.com believed that it is either impossible or unnecessary to assess the marital status or health condition of their platform's members.

According to database query platform TianYanCha.com, Zhenai.com had previously been summoned by the government for issues such as unclear refund rules, failure to fulfill advertised promises, and nominal verification of member information.

Previous administrative penalty information has revealed that last month, Jiayuan.com was fined 600,000 yuan by the market supervision authority in Yangpu district, Shanghai, for false or misleading commercial promotions, according to news outlet Yicai.com.

On Friday night, both platforms issued apology statements, claiming that they have established investigation teams to "thoroughly examine the issues" presented in the program.

At the same time, the two platforms have requested that the stores involved in the report suspend all operations to fully cooperate with investigations by governmental law enforcement agencies and their internal investigations.