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

“Let your child’s height easily grow by 3 to 8 centimeters.” “Gaining 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.”

On various online platforms, reporters found promotional posts from different merchants claiming they can install an “accelerator” on children’s bones, allowing teenagers to easily grow several centimeters. These tempting promises appeal to many parents’ hopes. However, while this business is booming, the “3.15” evening gala also received complaints from several 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” at their headquarters. 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 (cells) secrete more, so the child grows faster.

The store manager told reporters that their height-increasing method is a physical “green” growth aid.

During visits, reporters found that many Anlishen stores attract parents mainly through “contract guarantees and full refunds if ineffective.”

Manager of Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Store: 19,800 yuan a year, and we have a minimum guaranteed height increase.

Staff at Anlishen Teen Physical Height Growth Store: If the goal isn’t met, 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 also have an advantage: children will grow naturally, even if they don’t come to us, they will still grow. But we don’t tell parents that.

Not only is Anlishen deceiving consumers, but another nationwide chain, Dejiru 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 Dejiru Teen Physical Height Growth: We stimulate the child’s knees with ultrasonic devices. After intervention, increased cell activity makes the child grow faster.

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 Dejiru’s equipment.

Device Manufacturer’s Head: The core functions are anti-inflammatory and pain relief, unrelated to height increase.

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

The company also claims to hold a patent, but it is actually a control system patent unrelated to height increase. Other patents they hold do not have functions related to stimulating growth plates or accelerating bone cell division. Confronted with doubts, the headquarters and technical staff revealed the truth.

Head of Dejiru Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters: Children can grow naturally anyway; most are just slow growers. No matter how effective, they will grow—it’s just a matter of more or less.

Staff at Dejiru Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters: Some are just making money on the edge. If the timing is right, children are already growing, 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 height in adults with closed growth plates.

They constantly change tactics for different groups, clearly calculating their profits, exploiting people’s height anxiety as a scam.

Head of Dejiru Teen Physical Height Growth Headquarters: Adults only straighten bones; they don’t make bones grow. True bone growth is impossible. Opening closed growth plates in adults is impossible—it’s all a lie.

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

The head of Yingruike told reporters he can do physiological and psychological interventions, even including metaphysical methods, as long as parents are willing to pay.

But when asked about scientific basis and medical support, Mr. Pan said he has no medical data or clinical validation reports and just wants to make money.

Head of Yingruike Height and Physical Conditioning Center: It’s just a physical height increase scam without scientific basis. We still make money; it’s a highly profitable industry.

Before the investigation ended, more such height-increasing stores continued to open and franchise. Taking Dejiru as an example, they now have 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-tech and patents, these merchants promoting height myths are deceiving consumers and making huge profits.