A user claimed that after paying over 40,000 yuan for fortune-telling services on the Cece App, the predicted romantic reconciliation never occurred, resulting in both financial and emotional loss.
This case is not isolated. On the Black Cat Complaints platform, nearly 1,000 complaints have been filed against Cece, with users reporting issues such as deceptive marketing, misleading claims, inability to obtain refunds, and inconsistent quality among service providers.
Recently, China's cyberspace administration launched a one-month campaign targeting online fortune-telling services that promote superstition under the guise of altering fate or dispelling bad luck, signaling stricter regulatory oversight.
Some users reported being defrauded of tens of thousands of yuan. After months of paid consultations and spending over 40,000 yuan, one user uninstalled the app and filed a complaint. Attracted by online advertisements during a period of emotional distress, she turned to Cece’s digital fortune-telling services, which include astrology, tarot, and birth chart readings. At her lowest point, she contacted multiple fortune-tellers daily, sometimes spending over 500 yuan in a single day.
She initially consulted lower-priced providers but later switched to more expensive, highly-rated consultants in search of "more accurate" predictions. Within two to three months, she had spent nearly 40,000 yuan. She expressed feeling deceived when fortune-tellers repeatedly postponed the predicted date of reconciliation, leading her to continuously seek—and pay for—additional consultations.
When she attempted to seek recourse through customer service, she encountered unresponsive support and excuses, such as claims that the specific provider was no longer on the platform.
Another user, a college student, reported spending thousands of yuan based on a fortune-teller’s false assurance that a certain person would contact her before her postgraduate entrance exam. When the prediction failed to materialize, she described the experience as consumer fraud, causing both financial and emotional harm.
Among the numerous complaints on Black Cat, common issues include misleading advertising, difficulty obtaining refunds, uneven quality among service providers, and inadequate platform supervision. Some users claimed losses ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan.
In response, Cece’s customer service stated that users can report unprofessional or unsatisfactory providers, and the platform will investigate within 2–7 working days. If reports are verified, refunds may be issued, and penalties imposed on the providers.
Cece, launched in 2013, has grown into a platform with 55 million registered users and 26,000 consultants offering emotional and psychological services. It combines human and AI-based interactions to provide always-available support, marketed as an "essential app for the lovelorn" or a "digital confidant."
Founder Ren Yongliang outlined the platform’s evolution from an astrology community to a comprehensive emotional support service, with future plans to integrate AI and robotics to offer companionship. The company has attracted investment from several prominent firms.
However, the core of Cece’s business—its network of consultants—is also the primary source of user complaints. Users question the platform’s oversight, noting that many providers lack verifiable credentials and that complaint procedures are often ineffective.
According to legal expert Fang Wu from Guangdong Jinbian Law Firm, providing superstitious services under the guise of psychological counseling, with false promises and high-pressure sales tactics, constitutes consumer fraud. If involving large sums, it may even amount to criminal fraud. Platforms cannot evade responsibility by attributing misconduct to individual providers; they bear liability for insufficient vetting and oversight.
Services that violate public order or involve fraud render contracts invalid or voidable, and consumers may be entitled to full refunds or compensation.
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