16th June 2025 – (Tokyo) Japanese authorities have uncovered a sophisticated Chinese phishing scheme exploiting stolen credit card information to purchase and resell goods. Osaka police arrested a 23-year-old Chinese national, a university student, in connection with the operation last month. The fraud network began by stealing Japanese citizens’ credit card information through phishing emails disguised as “credit card irregularity notifications.” Victims who entered their data on fake websites unknowingly transmitted their details to the fraudsters’ computer systems, where the information was compiled and accessed for illicit transactions.
The arrested suspect admitted to responding to a recruitment post on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu. Using instructions provided by a contact nicknamed “God,” he retrieved preloaded phones from coin lockers and used mobile payment apps to purchase goods valued under ¥10,000 (approximately $75). His payment for these tasks was 5% of the resale value.
The suspect primarily purchased high-demand items like gaming consoles, which were resold to Chinese-operated second-hand shops. After completing each transaction, he returned 95% of the proceeds and the phone to the designated locker, finalising the operation.
During the investigation, police discovered 46 mobile phones and approximately 30,000 credit card records at the suspect’s residence. It remains unclear how many of these records were used for fraudulent purchases.
From October 2023 to September 2024, the suspect allegedly conducted five illegal transactions totalling ¥280,000 ($1,950). He was charged with creating and using falsified electronic records and sentenced to 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 4 years.
Police have described the operation as “highly organised and accessible,” raising concerns about the potential scale of stolen credit card data. Investigators are pursuing leads to identify the broader network, which appears to rely on social media platforms to recruit accomplices, including international students.
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