"At the beginning, most of the agents were air hostesses or tour guides who frequently travel abroad," she said. "But their numbers are expanding."

Emma, an Internet username, started her agent business several months ago, after a friend went to the United States to study. She said she now makes several thousand yuan a month.

"At the beginning, I just asked my friends to buy some cosmetic products for me from the USA," she said. "Then more of my friends and colleagues knew that I could make cheap purchases and asked me to do the same for them."

"One day I said to myself, 'why don't I make it my own business?'"

Emma said she made up to 10,000 yuan (US$1,250) a month, which she split with her friend in the United States and another helper.

"I have my own job and do this during my spare time, for fun. The money I get covers all my expenses on cosmetics, but I do know there are some agents who put everything into their business. They make a lot of money from it."

Mobeini, another Internet username, started her business one and a half years ago, when she became a mother.

"I quit my job when I got pregnant and did lots of shopping online because I found going out too troublesome," she said.

"One day I posted an advert for a bottle of my daughter's milk powder, which was purchased from the United States, and someone bought it. Soon after, I realized this could be a good business."

Mobeini said she was soon making tens of thousands of yuan a month from her business and she knew someone who was making about 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) a month.

However, not everyone is keen on the new fashion. Local lawyer Wu Dong warned that the practice could be illegal.

"It is fine to buy for friends and family," he said. "But making large sums of money by purchasing goods over the Internet could be considered smuggling."

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