• Li Zhuofan was arrested for allegedly defrauding her followers through candles
• Customers spent thousands hoping to attract luck

The spiritual products market in China has seen a surge among young people, with many paying high prices for “wish candles” promoted by social media influencers, hoping to rekindle romances or attract good fortune.

Li Zhuofan, a Chinese influencer, gained fame after appearing on a reality show where she used a candle to “locate” someone hiding in a car trunk and claimed she sensed a death had occurred in another vehicle.

Following that, Li began selling handmade candles online, decorated with crystals, dried flowers, and infused with essential oils.

Each candle was marketed as having special powers, such as boosting wealth or bringing back a former lover.

Prices ranged from 2,888 yuan (around $420) to 7,888 yuan (about $1,150) for the “triple luck” edition.

Li also hired a team to produce videos reinforcing her image as a psychic and sold online fortune-telling courses alongside the candles.

One customer paid 5,888 yuan, hoping the candle would attract new clients to their shop, and filed a police complaint when nothing happened.

Chinese media reported that Li was later arrested for fraud, allegedly collecting over 50 million yuan ($7 million) from candle sales and related courses.

Under Chinese law, fraud involving massive sums can carry more than 10 years in prison, along with fines and asset confiscation.