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.