Fukuoka prefectural police and other authorities arrested two Chinese nationals on suspicion of fraud for using a fake TikTok app to remotely control other people's smartphones and buy goods through electronic payment, police announced on the 10th.
Both suspects have admitted to the allegations, according to the announcement. Police are warning the public after a wave of similar cases across Japan since around August.
How the scheme worked
According to the prefectural police's cybercrime division, the two conspired with other unidentified people in September. They are suspected of using an electronic payment service in someone else's name at a discount store in Fukuoka Prefecture to fraudulently obtain four items, including a game console and a bag, with a total sales value of about 100,000 yen.
The fake app is called "TikTok18+" and bills itself as an adult version of TikTok. Installing it lets a phone be controlled remotely, police said.
The pair are believed to have installed the app on victims' phones through advertisements on social media and other routes. They then took over the devices and obtained barcodes used for electronic payment.
Earlier arrests and losses
The two had already been arrested twice for fraud using the same method between August and September. Police believe total losses came to about 2 million yen, and that the fraudulently purchased goods were resold.