Today I received a call from a friend, mentioning that recently many people with diabetes have been scammed, with losses ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. For diabetes patients and their families who are already financially strained, this is no small amount.

Although every person with diabetes has encountered various scams claiming to offer miracle cures—fake medicines, bogus health products, and all kinds of "magic devices" or "miracle doctors"—some of those who unfortunately fell into this trap are usually very cautious individuals. So why did they get fooled this time?

The scammer's tactic starts with products that are visibly high-quality, affordable, and priced unbelievably low.

The items scammers choose are typically those commonly used by people with diabetes—relatively expensive and highly sought-after products, such as the continuous glucose monitors that various manufacturers are heavily promoting lately.

For example: a branded continuous glucose monitor sensor normally costs 299 yuan each. You think it’s expensive but need to use it frequently, so you often search online for cheaper sources.

One day, you come across someone online who suddenly tells you they have a special channel—only 199 yuan each, a 100-yuan discount, and they encourage you to compare prices across the entire internet. How tempting does that sound?

You were complete strangers at first, so naturally you were skeptical. But with the scammers' repeated guarantees of a 7-day no-questions-asked return policy, you tentatively placed an order, thinking at worst you could just return it - not much risk there.

Unexpectedly, when the goods arrived, you found their quality identical to products purchased through official channels. If there were issues with the continuous glucose monitor sensors, the claims process through official channels worked just fine. After using them for a while, you realized this supplier's products were not only remarkably good quality, but the prices were undoubtedly the lowest online. Feeling fortunate to have found such an honest merchant, you began placing order after order for repurchases.

After enjoying this rare benefit for some time, you were delighted, and your trust and confidence gradually grew. That's when the scammers would opportunistically propose: Such a great deal shouldn't be kept to yourself - if you recommend this tremendous benefit to others, you'll earn commissions on successful referrals!

With a casual attitude, you followed the scammers' instructions to forward and share in various diabetes support groups you'd joined and with fellow patients. Thanks to the trust and the combination of excellent quality with low prices, more and more people were willing to purchase through you. What started as meager commissions gradually became substantial, and you began to glimpse what seemed like a promising path toward financial comfort.

Tasting the sweetness of success, you begin to gradually let your guard down.

November 11th (Double 11) is when many people with diabetes stock up on essential blood sugar control supplies for the whole year—items like glucose meter test strips and other consumables that get bought in bulk. But even before Double 11 arrives, scammers are already pushing messages like: "This Double 11, our company is running a special promotion—the more you buy, the bigger the discount!"

Your little heart is instantly moved: you need this product anyway, and with all those people buying from you, the combined yearly usage adds up to quite a lot. Buying in bulk could indeed save you a significant amount, even make you a tidy profit! For someone living on a tight budget, this is simply too tempting!

With little money on hand, you cut back on daily expenses to scrape together funds; when that's not enough, you borrow from relatives and friends; still short, you turn to online loans. So, you exhaust every possible means, summoning all your energy to gather a sum of money, and without hesitation, place an unprecedented large order. As you wait for the shipment, you daydream about the brighter future ahead.

But the usual two- to three-day delivery never comes. You’re told it's delayed due to Double Eleven logistics—just wait a bit longer. Another week passes with no updates, and doubts start creeping in. Yet, the scammers’ reassurances keep you holding on to hope.

Then one day, you suddenly realize your messages go unanswered. And then—you’re blocked!

You can't believe you've been scammed, but you can't deny the reality of being deceived. You think of calling the police, but after dialing 110, the operator tells you this is an economic dispute that must be resolved through court litigation.

United you stand—but just as you find others who fell for the same scam and prepare to take legal action together, an uneasy voice suddenly speaks up: "We also helped them sell products. Individuals selling medical devices online without proper certification is illegal too. If we sue the scammers, we might lose even more!"

Only then do you realize: what seemed like an unfortunate coincidence was actually a meticulously planned trap from beginning to end!

They exploited your greed to lower your guard, letting you take the bait and sink deeper into the scam. They took advantage of your ignorance to make you violate laws—so even when you know you've been cheated, you can't speak up or dare to sue. The scammers remain at large, free to exploit more victims just like you.

From now on, burdened with debt, what can you do besides crying?

This is not a story, but a reality happening around us—if you've had similar experiences and choose to suffer in silence, that's an understandable act of self-protection, but it shouldn't stop you from sharing this article to warn fellow patients who haven't been scammed or are currently being deceived.

If you haven't encountered similar scams yet, take this as a warning—when you come across something that seems like an obvious bargain, don't rush to take advantage. Stop and think: if even a fool can get this good deal, isn't someone likely setting a trap? You may be eyeing their small benefits, but they're aiming for your entire fortune.

When shopping, it's best to use reliable platforms. Nowadays, official flagship stores of various brands on Pinduoduo often offer great deals that can be taken advantage of. If you come across individuals claiming to have special channels, make sure to verify whether they are truly trustworthy.

In short, diabetic patients have it tough, which makes it all the more important to stay sharp to protect both your wallet and your intelligence!