Data plans advertised with claims of "one-cent activation," "ultra-low monthly fees," and "delivery address as service location" are currently selling well on various e-commerce platforms.
Searches for "data plan" on platforms including TikTok and Taobao reveal numerous merchants selling these products, many with monthly sales volumes exceeding one thousand.
These merchants primarily use two methods to mislead consumers, who often discover the discrepancies only after receiving the product:
First, they use small amounts for "bait-and-switch advertising." Terms like "200G" and "19 yuan/month" are prominently displayed on the product pages. However, these advertised prices are not the actual costs but are amounts calculated after factoring in various promotions, discounts, or rebates.
Second, the data included in some plans is pieced together from multiple overlapping activities. Some merchants only disclose upon further questioning that the data allowance is merely 90GB for the first and second months, only upgrading to 200GB after 70 days of registration. Other merchants state that a 90GB general data package is split into three parts: the base plan includes only 20GB of general data, with the remainder requiring additional activities like top-ups and usage-based rewards to complete the full package.
This practice of layered conditions is seen as a "nested doll" scheme for data plans. Regarding the authenticity of these high-data plans, several major network operators have denied any association, stating they have "not seen similar data packages" and advising consumers to "purchase with caution."
The mismatch between advertisement and reality highlights the prevalence of "low-price bait" tactics. With the explosive growth of applications like short videos and live streaming, consumer demand for mobile data continues to climb. On various e-commerce platforms, high-data plans touting "one-cent activation" and other appealing features are selling briskly. While these plans appear convenient, they are fraught with deceptive practices, and many consumers have already been misled.
On one hand, these stores use small amounts for bait-and-switch advertising. Searching for "data plan" on platforms like TikTok and Taobao brings up many merchants selling these products. Their promotional pages prominently feature terms like "200G" and "19 yuan/month," claiming consumers can purchase for just 0.01 yuan. Merchants also display logos of major carriers like China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile to enhance credibility.
Inquiries with several merchants revealed that the advertised "0.01 yuan" or "19 yuan" are not the actual fees but are amounts derived after combining various discounts and rebates. For example, spending 0.01 yuan only secures the SIM card; actually using the service requires topping up more money.
The excessively low prices lead many consumers to place orders, only to later find the product does not match the description. On the consumer rights platform Black Cat Complaints, one user reported that after being attracted by an ad for a "19 yuan 300GB large data plan," the merchant used their personal information to activate a different, smaller plan costing 39 yuan per month for 50GB. The user stated the courier persistently encouraged activation of this different plan upon delivery.
Another consumer reported purchasing a 19-yuan-per-month Mobile data card, but the merchant canceled the order upon delivery under the pretext of a "free gift," resulting in a salesperson arriving to set up a 39-yuan-per-month broadcast network card instead. The consumer realized they had been deceived only after topping up. A different case involved a consumer who bought a Mobile data card on Taobao's Tmall advertised at 9 yuan per month, but the actual charge was 29 yuan. The customer service claimed a 20-yuan monthly rebate would be paid after five months, but the store eventually closed, making it impossible to contact the merchant.
On the other hand, the data in some plans is accumulated through multiple activities. For instance, one store with over 56,000 sales showed "200GB general data" on its main page. Upon inquiry, the merchant clarified that only 90GB is provided in the first and second months, upgrading to 200GB only after 70 days of registration. A TikTok store with a 4.7 rating similarly explained that its advertised 90GB general data package is split: the base plan offers only 20GB, with the rest requiring completion of top-up and usage-based reward activities.
Notably, during conversations, several merchants confirmed they were selling officially authorized packages, claimable as verifiable within the respective carrier's app. However, when discussing cancellation procedures, they stated they could only provide assistance, with actual cancellation requiring a visit to a local carrier service center.
With merchants handling sales but not cancellations, questions arise about the legitimacy of these "massive data plans." An official China Mobile customer service representative stated they have not seen such data packages and warned that purchases may not match reality, adding that a 100GB plan would certainly cost more than 19 yuan and advising psychological preparation. A China Unicom official客服 representative said the company has "not launched data-specific cards" and is "unaware of any 19-yuan 200GB plan," noting that plans approaching 100GB currently start at around 110 yuan per month. A China Telecom representative advised caution, suggesting the offers might be specific to certain provinces and recommending purchases through formal channels.
Furthermore, the Hainan Communications Administration has publicized a similar case. A consumer reported purchasing a "China Mobile 19-yuan 235GB data card" from a TikTok store but received a 59-yuan-per-month youth card offering only 10GB of general data and 30GB of定向流量, alleging the operator was engaged in false advertising. The Hainan Communications Administration responded directly, stating such activities do not fall under value-added telecom business licensing and are merely merchant tactics using "massive data" as a gimmick to attract buyers.
This raises the question of e-commerce platform accountability. Although stores claim official authorization, the major carriers deny offering such plans. Taobao's official customer service stated the platform "would not let merchants damage its reputation" and that merchants violating rules would be severely penalized by the relevant department. However, it did not provide a clear response regarding issues like "fine-print advertising" or "non-existent plans."
Investigation reveals these merchants may source products from various platforms. Searching for "data plan agent" leads to distributor sites like Baoshixin, Liuliangdu, and Wushangwang, where becoming a data agent involves simple information registration. These sites offer attractive commissions, claiming 80-230 yuan per order. The platforms list various plans from carriers like China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile, providing promotion links, product posters, and settlement rules (e.g., "rebate next month," "instant rebate"). Agents receive commissions once consumers place orders and activate services through their links.
So, who is responsible when consumers activate these "deceptive" data cards with "fine-print inducements" only to find a mismatch? According to lawyer Wang Longguo from Shanghai Shenyihe Law Firm, the selling entity is principally responsible. From a rights protection perspective, if the responsible party is unclear, consumers may seek accountability from all involved entities. He gave an example: If China Telecom did not sell or authorize a third party to sell the plan, it would not be liable; if a merchant on a platform is confirmed as the seller, that merchant bears responsibility.
Comments