Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the prevalence of "antique scams" on live streaming platforms, where victims, particularly the elderly, are deceived into purchasing fake antiques, leading to significant financial losses and emotional distress [1][3][16]. Group 1: Scam Mechanisms - Scammers use various tactics, including impersonating reputable companies and creating false narratives to lure consumers into purchasing items with promises of high buyback prices [3][6][19]. - Victims report losses exceeding 1 billion yuan, with individual cases involving amounts over 200 million yuan [1][16]. - The scams often involve high-pressure sales tactics, such as requiring victims to pay exorbitant "storage fees" or "service fees" after making a purchase [6][9]. Group 2: Victim Experiences - Many victims, especially older individuals, struggle to navigate the online complaint process due to technological barriers, leading to low refund rates, with some only recovering 30% of their losses [7][12]. - Victims report that the platforms' refund policies are inadequate, with many complaints being dismissed due to the inability to provide precise merchant information or because the merchants have disappeared [7][9][13]. - Emotional and psychological impacts on victims are severe, with some experiencing health crises due to the stress of financial loss [12][20]. Group 3: Regulatory and Platform Issues - The lack of effective regulation on live streaming platforms allows scammers to operate with impunity, often reappearing under new accounts after being banned [16][19]. - Platforms often evade responsibility by citing insufficient merchant deposits or expired order timelines, despite legal frameworks indicating that they have a duty to protect consumers [15][21]. - The article emphasizes the need for platforms to enhance their monitoring and complaint mechanisms to better protect consumers from such scams [20][21].