GoKawiilJapanese police arrest couple over hidden hotel PC used in 480,000-email phishing scam
A Chinese couple, Ye Jiafeng and Shen Qi, both 39, have been arrested in Japan after police say they hid a computer behind a fridge in a hotel room to send roughly 480,000 phishing emails impersonating credit card companies. The machine, connected to hotel Wi-Fi since May 2025 and controlled remotely, held about 2.4 million email addresses when discovered. The pair also face charges over separate stolen credit card purchases, with 74 phones and 10 million yen in fraudulent spending reportedly linked to their home.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The case shows how physical access to public Wi-Fi combined with remote administration can let scammers run large-scale phishing operations with minimal risk of detection, since the device needed no in-person maintenance. The scam was only uncovered because one phishing recipient contacted the hotel directly, suggesting such schemes could otherwise persist undetected for long periods. Police say they are still investigating whether the couple acted alone or as part of a larger operation, leaving open the possibility of wider criminal networks involved.
- A hidden PC behind a hotel fridge sent about 480,000 phishing emails using hotel Wi-Fi.
- The device held 2.4 million email addresses and was reportedly controlled remotely without in-person upkeep.
- The couple also face charges for separate stolen credit card purchases totaling around $63,000, with 74 phones found at their home.
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Published there as: “480,000 phishing emails sent from a PC hidden behind a fridge in a Japanese hotel room”
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