WeChat "group buying" mini program "group leader" runs away, how should consumers protect their rights?

Recently, multiple consumers have reported that they purchased Polaroid photo paper on the WeChat "group buying" mini program several months ago, but have not received their orders after waiting for many days. They have tried to contact the "group leader" who initiated the group buying, but have received no response. In the second half of this year, there have been multiple incidents of group buying scams under the guise of "low-priced Polaroid photo paper or cameras", with some victims losing up to hundreds of thousands of yuan. Associate Professor Peng Chao from the Law School of Wuhan University stated that whether the platform is responsible or not depends on their actual role and legal obligations in the transaction. If the platform unilaterally declares in the user agreement that they are not responsible, it constitutes a standard clause. If the platform knowingly or should have known that the seller or service provider is using the platform to infringe on the legal rights of consumers and fails to take necessary measures, they will be jointly liable with the seller or service provider according to the law. In response to the current chaos in group buying pre-paid consumption and the difficulties faced by consumers in seeking rights protection, Peng Chao suggests that consumers should request for the real identity information of the "group leader" from the platform. In case of consumer disputes, they should first contact the "group leader" and then the platform's customer service for complaints. If the issue cannot be resolved, they should promptly seek help through the 12315 hotline or file a lawsuit with the people's court.