A dedicated special supervision and inspection campaign targeting the elderly care services market has been launched in the region recently by the Jiading Branch of Xinfeng County Market Regulation Administration in Jiangxi Province. To address prominent livelihood concerns within the elderly care sector, the branch has joined forces with local police stations and community organizations, taking a zero-tolerance stance against various illegal and non-compliant business activities that prey on older consumers.
Focusing on venues frequently associated with elderly consumer complaints and potential risks, such as wellness centers, physiotherapy shops, health product retailers, and health consultation agencies, enforcement officers have conducted in-depth examinations. The inspections utilized a combination of surprise checks, verification of consumer leads, and undercover investigations to thoroughly scrutinize business operations.
A key part of the enforcement effort has been checking whether merchants are using gimmicks like "wellness lectures," "health seminars," or "free trial experiences" to exaggerate the benefits of ordinary goods, therapy services, or so-called "high-tech products" in ways that constitute misleading marketing. Authorities are also cracking down on the use of fabricated authority, falsified data, and invented testimonials to improperly sell wellness therapies, dietary supplements, or unverified "black tech" medical devices to seniors. The campaign also aims to expose deceptive "soft trap" tactics, such as those disguised as "caring services" or "gift and rebate" schemes.
Beyond strict enforcement, the Jiading branch has been working with community partners on targeted anti-fraud education. The goal is to establish a comprehensive governance loop combining regulatory enforcement, public oversight, and community outreach, thereby improving seniors' ability to recognize and resist scams and strengthening safety precautions at the source.
This operation inspected 37 businesses serving the elderly, identified 16 problems, and initiated legal proceedings in 2 cases. Moving forward, the Jiading Branch plans to strengthen routine supervision of the elderly care services sector, maintain open and accessible complaint channels, and sustain a firm stance against any practices that infringe on the rights of senior citizens. The ultimate objective is to safeguard people's "pension funds" and ensure elderly consumers can make purchases with greater confidence and peace of mind.