Mother Fights for Justice After Scammers Exploit Disabled Son

A Chinese mother is seeking justice after scammers tricked her intellectually disabled son into having breast augmentation surgery to secure a job. The incident highlights the rising issue of scams amid China's economic downturn. The boy's plight has sparked outrage on social media and reflects broader concerns about youth unemployment in China.

A Chinese mother has taken to television to demand justice after scammers duped her intellectually disabled 19-year-old son into undergoing breast augmentation surgery. The teenagers' desperate bid for employment led him to a cosmetic surgery clinic in Wuhan, where he was misled to believe the procedure would secure him financial success through livestreaming.

The clinic convinced him to borrow 30,000 yuan ($4,180) for the surgery, a story his mother shared on television last week, igniting public outrage. "For the sake of money, one can give up one's humanity," commented one of over 2,600 posts on China's Weibo platform, where images of the boy's ordeal have garnered more than 27 million views. With assistance from the TV station and legal experts, the loan was cancelled, but the surgery left indelible scars.

Such scams, including false job offers, misleading advertisements, and financial traps, are proliferating in China's faltering economy. Last year, the nation's top legal prosecuting agency noted a rise in fraudulent activities targeting students and recent graduates. As China contends with relentless economic challenges and record-high youth unemployment rates, the need for job creation becomes even more pressing. President Xi Jinping emphasized the urgency of addressing youth unemployment, underscoring its importance for economic stability.

(With inputs from agencies.)