Influencer Xi Lyu, known for portraying herself as an "elite female lawyer" on social media, has been detained by police on suspicion of criminal offenses, according to staff at Shanghai Dehe Hantong (Chengdu) Law Offices.
Earlier reports indicated that the influencer, whose real surname is Zhao, does not possess a valid lawyer's license.
On June 25, the law firm issued a statement confirming it had reported the case to authorities after discovering Zhao's alleged misconduct. Police accepted the case on June 15 and launched an investigation, vowing "zero tolerance for illegal acts".
Further checks by media revealed no record of Zhao's lawyer credentials on the National Lawyer Credit Information Publicity System. An officer from Chengdu Lawyers Association said, "No lawyer by this name is registered in Chengdu. Police are investigating following the firm's report."
Zhao gained fame online by sharing courtroom experiences and legal knowledge on social media platforms.