Tokyo Police Arrest Three Teens for Rakuten Mobile Subscription Fraud

Three teenage boys were arrested by Tokyo police for fraudulently subscribing to Rakuten Mobile using an AI program, obtaining around 2,500 subscriptions and earning about ¥7.5 million in cryptocurrency. They accessed the system using stolen IDs, sold the subscriptions, and used the funds for online gambling and purchases. Authorities are investigating further illegal activities related to credit card information discovered on their devices.

Tokyo police apprehended three teenage boys, suspected of engaging in fraudulent subscriptions to Rakuten Mobile’s phone service using a self-developed artificial intelligence program. The Metropolitan Police Department’s cybercrime unit indicates that these teenagers managed to acquire around 2,500 mobile phone subscriptions over approximately six months, earning around ¥7.5 million in cryptocurrency from these illicit activities.

The trio is said to have accessed Rakuten Mobile’s system with others’ IDs and passwords, fraudulently obtaining 105 mobile subscriptions between May and August of the previous year. The suspects include a 14-year-old junior high school student from Tokyo, a 16-year-old first-year high school student in Gifu, and a 15-year-old junior high school student in Shiga, all of whom reportedly confessed to their involvement.

One teen expressed a desire to gain social media attention through intricate criminal endeavors. The high school student led the creation of the AI program, which automated the login process to procure subscriptions from Rakuten Mobile.

The boys purchased IDs and passwords via Telegram, a secure messaging platform. During a police investigation, 3.3 billion ID and password combinations were discovered on their devices. They subsequently sold the subscriptions for cryptocurrency, which they used for gambling on online casinos and purchasing gaming consoles.

Additionally, authorities uncovered approximately 10,000 credit card details from their computers and are currently examining potential illegal uses of this data.

The case highlights the potential for misuse of artificial intelligence in committing fraud. By leveraging technology, these teenagers executed a large-scale scheme that underscores the necessity for robust cybersecurity measures and monitoring of online subscription services. The ongoing investigation into their activities aims to address potentially broader implications regarding personal data security.

Original Source: www.japantimes.co.jp