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

“Let your child’s height easily grow by 3 to 8 centimeters.”
“Growing 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 found on major online platforms by various merchants claim they can install an “accelerator” on children’s bones, allowing teenagers to easily grow several centimeters. These tempting promises have met many parents’ expectations. 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 multiple branches. On a busy weekend, the store was lively, with more than ten children undergoing height-increasing treatments.

Manager of Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Store:
We use this instrument from Anlishen to stimulate the child’s growth plates, making the 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:
For 19,800 yuan a year, we also have a minimum guaranteed increase in centimeters.

Staff at Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Store:
If we don’t meet the target, 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 have an advantage: children will grow naturally, even if they don’t come to us, but we don’t tell parents that.

It’s not just Anlishen deceiving consumers; 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 ultrasonic device.

Manager of Deji Rui Teen Physical Height Growth Store:
Using ultrasonic devices to stimulate the child’s knees, for example, if intervention occurs, the cell activity increases, and the child’s growth rate accelerates.

Do these so-called core height-increasing devices really have the claimed effect? 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 growth.

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

The manufacturer also clarified that the patent Deji Rui claims is actually a control system patent, unrelated to height increase. Other patents held by the company also lack 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 are just slow growers. 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, and if the timing is right, children will continue to grow, so refunds are unlikely.

Merchants use pseudo-scientific talk 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 defraud teenagers but also claim that they can increase the height of adults with closed growth plates.

They constantly change tactics for different groups, clearly aiming to exploit height anxiety as a consumer trap.

Head of Deji Rui Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters:
Adults only straighten your bones; they don’t make bones grow. Truly growing bones after the growth plates close is impossible. It’s all a scam.

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

Yingruike’s manager told reporters that they can do physiological adjustments, psychological interventions, and even include metaphysical elements—if parents are willing to pay, they can be included in the height-increasing package.

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

Yingruike Height and Physical Conditioning Center Headquarters:
It’s just a physical height increase scam with no scientific basis. We make money because it’s highly profitable.

Before the investigation ended, these types of 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 franchise locations. 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)