3·15 Evening Gala | "Medical Expert" Turns Out to Be an Actor! "Private Domain Marketing" Yields 5 Times Profit by Targeting Seniors

In late January 2026, a private domain marketing industry internal exchange conference was held in a certain city in Central China, with over a hundred related companies participating. Through an industry insider’s introduction, a reporter smoothly entered the venue. During the event, many company representatives took the stage to speak and seek partnerships.

At the scene, the reporter learned that the so-called “online video production company” on stage is a key link in the private domain marketing industry. These “online video producers” select products from pharmaceutical or health supplement companies, then produce a series of health lectures and videos based on these products—ranging from four or five episodes to hundreds. After production, the “video producers” bundle the products and programs and sell them to private domain marketing companies, which then use various methods to attract customers, guiding consumers to social platform private domain scenes where courses are played for product marketing.

The medicines and health supplements chosen by these video producers are purchased at very low costs but sold externally at very high prices.

Participant: Mr. Jin: This bottle costs less than 20 yuan, but I set the price at 1,198 yuan. After adding the link, someone just bought it.

Over the past year, the State Administration for Market Regulation has seriously cracked down on scams targeting the elderly within the private domain sector. To understand the latest developments in private domain marketing, the reporter contacted a company called “DaHong International,” which currently promotes a video called “Life Code” in the private domain field. In marketing materials sent by Manager Liu of DaHong International, the reporter saw clearly that the first round of 20 episodes of this product’s video series has been completed, and the second round has reached episode 15. The main product promoted is an OTC medicine called “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Glycopeptide Oral Solution,” priced at 298 yuan per box, with a 90ml specification.

The materials describe “Life Code” as a course based on the “21st-century first therapy—cell regeneration therapy.” It claims that by taking “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Glycopeptide Oral Solution,” patients with various stubborn diseases can recover.

However, a search on the internet revealed that the indications for “Huoyuan Tai Ganlu Glycopeptide Oral Solution” are quite different from the exaggerated claims in the “Life Code” videos. The market price for the 90ml specification of this product could not be found, but another product with the same manufacturer, approval number, and drug code—“Ganlu Glycopeptide Oral Solution (Anjia An)” in 100ml—costs only 68 yuan.

A common auxiliary treatment drug is being falsely hyped and even distorted in its basic effects, then sold at nearly five times the market price. To uncover the truth behind this, the reporter visited DaHong International’s office, where Manager Liu was the receptionist. At the start of the conversation, Liu unexpectedly mentioned the “3.15 Gala.”

DaHong International, Video Producer of “Life Code,” Manager Liu: If you want to do it, wait until after the “3.15” Gala. We don’t know what will happen during this year’s “3.15” event. The “3.15” Gala is a barometer, and our private domain channels are in a gray area.

Liu emphasized that, as a producer of false courses and high-priced drug scams targeting the elderly, they need to keep a low profile during this period to avoid attracting the attention of the “3.15” Gala.

DaHong International, Manager Liu: Recently, everyone is worried whether the “3.15” Gala will expose our group (private domain). Actually, our industry can’t withstand scrutiny.

Facing the upcoming “3.15” Gala, Liu explained her business strategy, advising against launching online videos now. Besides the “3.15” period, the Spring Festival is also an unsuitable time for private domain marketing.

DaHong International, Manager Liu: Wait until after the “3.15” Gala, because we need to hit certain time nodes. During the Spring Festival, children are at home, and no one allows their elders to spend so much money on these things.

On a shelf beside the office, various health supplements and medicines are displayed. Liu explained that these are products previously promoted by their company in online videos. To sell these ordinary products as “miracle drugs,” they put in a lot of effort.

Liu revealed that behind every scam targeting elderly consumers in online videos, there is a professional planning company that customizes “scam scripts” for the producers. To fully expose the entire private domain marketing scam, the reporter was introduced to Shengwei Culture Media Co., Ltd., located in a northeastern city. Company head Zhang explained how they plan a typical private domain video “sales process.”

Zhong, the manager at Shengwei, told the reporter that the most critical factor in whether a so-called online video can sell products is the “medical experts” featured in the videos.

Shengwei Culture Media, Zhong: Establish the authority figure (expert) well, and the public will trust them. Once they trust, whatever the expert recommends, people will follow and buy.

Since experts are so crucial, what kind of people can become the main speakers in these online videos?

Shengwei Culture Media, Zhong: The two most important words are “actor.” We write the script, and the teacher just acts it out. The professionalism is given by the script; as long as the teacher can speak passionately, that’s enough. They don’t need to be real medical professionals—just good at acting.

Can identities be assigned arbitrarily? No doctors, just actors? No medical knowledge, only reading scripts? Are all those experts with titles like “Disciples of Traditional Chinese Medicine,” “Master of Chinese Medicine,” just actors with acting skills?

Shengwei Culture Media, Zhong: Not anymore. Now, because the government regulates strictly, we need teachers to actually have medical licenses.

Zhong admitted that in the past, most “experts” in their videos were fake. Now, with tighter regulation of the private sector, they are starting to seek medical professionals with valid practicing licenses to record programs. However, these professionals’ lofty titles are still designed and packaged by the company.

Zhong explained that titles like “Disciples of Traditional Chinese Medicine,” “Society President,” or “Expert Committee Member” are almost all bought with money. To verify the truth, the reporter visited several other video production and planning companies, and the answers were surprisingly consistent.

Aoying Culture Media, Liu: Customers want authoritative teachers. Can real authoritative teachers do this? It’s all fake, all scams.

Given how brazenly these video producers package fake “experts,” do the medical personnel pushed to the front know about these scams? The reporter wanted to see the recording process and meet the instructors, but was told that due to the “3.15” Gala, recording work would only resume after the event.

Shua Ba Culture, Manager Qin: Especially now, most are big clients who understand the trends. After the “3.15” Gala, they will plan and shoot.

Using the identity of a video producer, the reporter contacted several so-called expert instructors involved in recording videos. All were highly cautious and refused recent meetings.

Despite the tight precautions against the “3.15” reporters, the reporter persisted and finally gained the trust of an “expert instructor,” Ding Yuqiu, who agreed to meet.

Although in the videos, ophthalmologist Ding Yuqiu speaks convincingly, a search revealed that Ding holds a medical license, but it is limited to internal medicine, not ophthalmology. Why would an internist pose as an “eye expert” online?

Online Video Instructor Ding Yuqiu: First, you need a medical license. Second, you need to speak well. Don’t worry about the “title”—you can buy it. Pay a fee, join an association, and get a vice president position—that’s easy.

The reporter then checked the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ “China Social Organization Government Service Platform” and found no registration record for the “Chinese Medical Doctor Association.” Consumers who don’t search online wouldn’t know that the so-called “Chinese Medical Doctor Association” Ding mentions is a non-existent organization.