A Zhengzhou e-commerce seller refunded payment two years after selling nuts, following a buyer’s claim that family members died from poisoning. The buyer submitted forged death certificates and ash photos. Police later confirmed the evidence was fabricated.

Social Context

China’s E-Commerce Law (2019) requires platforms and sellers to handle complaints transparently but prohibits fraudulent claims under Article 25 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law. ‘Compensation blackmail’ scams targeting small merchants have surged amid rising online dispute resolution awareness and weak digital forensic verification at micro-enterprise level.

Safety Tip

Preserve original transaction records, packaging, and batch numbers; consult platform dispute resolution channels and local market supervision authorities before processing unusual refund requests.