3·15 Evening Gala | "Height Enhancement" Scam Crazy Money-Grabbing

“Let your child’s height easily grow by 3 to 8 centimeters.” “Gaining 3 to 8 centimeters is not a dream.” “Don’t miss the opportunity to catch up.” “If you want your child not to fall behind at the starting line, take a look.” “It’s like installing a growth accelerator on the bones. If ineffective, we dare to offer a full refund.”

The promotional posts from various merchants found on major online platforms claim they can install an “accelerator” on children’s bones, allowing teenagers to easily grow several centimeters. These tempting promises appeal to many parents’ hopes. However, while this business is booming, the “3.15” evening gala also received multiple complaints from consumers claiming they were scammed. Are these height-increasing services, which claim to be “physical and safe,” high-tech or just consumer scams?

Following the store names left in online promotions, reporters visited a chain called “Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth” located at a branch. On a busy weekend, the store was lively, with more than ten children undergoing height growth treatments.

Manager of Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Store: We use this instrument from Anlishen to stimulate the child’s growth plates, making (cells) secrete more, so the child grows faster.

The store manager explained that their height-increasing method is a physical “green” growth aid.

During visits, reporters found that many Anlishen stores attract parents mainly through promises of “contract guarantees and full refunds if ineffective.”

Manager of Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Store: 19,800 yuan a year, and we have a minimum guaranteed increase in centimeters.

Staff at Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Store: If the goal isn’t met, we offer a full refund.

Do they really offer full refunds if ineffective? Can they physically increase a child’s height? To uncover the true purpose of these merchants, reporters went undercover as franchisees to the headquarters of “Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth.” During the interview, the manager revealed the truth.

Head of Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters: We also have an advantage: children will grow naturally, even if they don’t come to us, they will still grow. But we don’t tell parents that.

Not only is Anlishen deceiving consumers, but another nationwide chain, Deji Rui Teen Physical Height Growth, also offers similar height-increasing programs, with the same pricing and promises of full refunds if ineffective.

Unlike other similar stores, they have an exclusive physical height-increasing technology based on a self-developed sound wave device.

Manager of Deji Rui Teen Physical Height Growth: We use sound wave devices to stimulate the child’s knees. For example, after intervention, increased cell activity makes the child grow faster.

Do these so-called core height-increasing devices really have the claimed effects? To find out, reporters investigated the device manufacturer based on the brand information displayed on Deji Rui equipment.

Device Manufacturer’s Head: The core functions of the device are anti-inflammatory and pain relief, unrelated to height increase.

Additionally, the manufacturer’s manual explicitly states that children under 14 are prohibited from use.

The company also claims to hold a patent, but it is actually a control system patent unrelated to height increase. Other patents they hold do not have functions related to stimulating growth plates or accelerating bone cell division. Confronted with doubts, the headquarters and technical staff revealed the truth.

Head of Deji Rui Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters: Children will generally grow on their own; most just grow slowly. No matter how effective, they will grow—it’s just a matter of more or less.

Staff at Deji Rui Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters: Some are just making money on the edge. If the timing is right, children are always growing, so refunds are unlikely.

Merchants use pseudo-scientific language to deceive consumers. During investigations, many children and parents who received these services reported that the actual height increase was not satisfactory.

These physical height-increasing institutions not only target teenagers with consumer fraud but also claim that they can increase height in adults with closed growth plates.

They constantly change tactics for different groups, clearly calculating their profits, exploiting people’s height anxieties as a scam.

Head of Deji Rui Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters: Adults only straighten bones; they don’t make bones grow. Truly growing bones in adults is impossible. Opening closed growth plates in adults is impossible—it’s all a lie.

Although industry insiders know that once growth plates close, natural height increase is impossible, another company, Yingruike Height and Physical Conditioning Center, claims it can defy scientific knowledge and achieve “closure height increase.”

The head of Yingruike told reporters that they can do physiological and psychological interventions, even include metaphysical elements, as long as parents are willing to pay, they can be included in height-increasing packages.

But when asked about the scientific basis and medical support for these height-increasing plans, Mr. Pan said he has no medical data or clinical validation reports and just wants to make money.

Head of Yingruike Height and Physical Conditioning Center: It’s just a physical height increase scam without scientific basis. We make money because it’s highly profitable.

By the end of the investigation, such height-increasing stores continued to expand through franchisees. Taking Deji Rui as an example, there are now over seventy stores across ten provinces. Anlishen has over sixty stores, and Yingruike has more than thirty. Relying on sales pitches and false claims of high technology and patents, these merchants are deceiving consumers and making huge profits under the myth of height increase.

(Edited by: Wen Jing)