Man scams thousands using 4,600 smartphones, earning millions in just a few months

A new fraud surfaced in Zhejiang province, China, where a man allegedly made enormous sums of money by fabricating viewing counts using thousands of iPhones.

According to an Interesting Engineering story, the individual was able to earn 3 million yuan ($415,000) in a matter of months with the use of this new scam.

His services enabled streamers to gain the most online interaction possible.

Following reports of the swindle, the authorities detained the con artist and sentenced him to 15 months in prison and a fine of 50,000 yuan (US$7,000).

Wang was identified as the individual who began using fraud tactics in 2022 following brushing practice.

Brushing is a dishonest practice used to manipulate actual online activity and increase interaction.

These behaviors are largely employed in the e-commerce industry to inflate user ratings and order volume.

Wang purchased 4,600 smartphones and set them up on his computer using specialized software that let him control every phone with a few mouse clicks.

The publican claimed that the suspect mentioned how much a single phone could be operated for just 6.65 yuan a day.

Wang is not the only person under investigation, according to South China Morning Post, which cited Chinese authorities. Seventeen other people are being looked into for “breaking national regulations, knowingly spreading fake information online through publishing services for profit, and disrupting the market order.”