A popular Chinese live-streaming host known for giving money to the poor in remote villages in China has been caught staging his acts of charity. A video of one of his “philanthropic efforts” showed his associates taking back donations from villagers.

The man known as “Brother Jie” on the Chinese live-streaming website Kuai Shou was caught staging charitable acts in Da Liangshan in Sichuan Province where more than 50,000 poor families reside, local media reported on Saturday.

In a released video, two men give money and food to locals, however, later footage showed the men taking the money back from the poor!

In another video Brother Jie waved a bundle of banknotes and said: “I will fulfill my promise to my fans to give 30,000 yuan (~$4,500) to the 15 poorest families of this village! Each family will get 2,000 yuan!”

After the video was widely shared online, Brother Jie admitted that he was the man in both videos and that he took the money back.

“I dare to admit that I was taking the money back. But do other hosts on this site who claim to be doing acts of charity dare to admit the same?,” local media cited him as his saying.

Later the host recorded an apology video for his fans in which he drank a full bottle of detergent. After doing so he was rushed to hospital, the report says.

Hosts on live-streaming sites can make huge amounts of money, with viewers rewarding their favorites hosts with virtual gifts that can be exchanged for cash. Another host on Kuai Shou said he could make 20 million yuan by next May, the South China Morning Post reported.