Computer hidden behind a fridge in a hotel room in Japan had been sending lakhs of phishing emails to steal card details since over a year; used hotel Wi-Fi; here's how it was traced
Japanese police have arrested a Chinese couple after a computer, tucked away behind a refrigerator in a Kobe hotel room, was discovered running a massive email scam for more than a year. In this unusual cybercrime case, the hidden machine was connected to the hotel’s public Wi-Fi and sent out an estimated 480,000 phishing emails designed to deceive recipients and steal their credit card credentials.
The suspects, identified as 39-year-old Ye Jiafeng and his 39-year-old wife, Shen Qi – both local residents – were taken into custody not only for operating the hidden system but also for allegedly using stolen credit card data to finance high-value shopping sprees, Tom’s Hardware reported (via Hackread ). Both individuals now face multiple criminal charges, including computer fraud, trespass and fraudulent obstruction of business.
Hidden behind a fridge: How the phishing PC ranThe operation began on May 15, 2025, when Ye hooked up the computer to the hotel’s wireless internet network and concealed it behind a refrigerator in one of the guest rooms. Once secured in place, the machine was managed remotely, removing any need for either suspect to return to the room for physical maintenance.
Reportedly, operating quietly from its hiding spot, the computer fired off roughly 4.8 lakh fraudulent messages. When investigators finally seized the unit, they found a database containing around 2.4 million email addresses queued up for future phishing runs. The outgoing messages impersonated legitimate credit card issuers, directing recipients to counterfeit landing pages to harvest payment details and security numbers.
How the hidden PC was tracedThe covert setup would likely have continued running unnoticed if an observant recipient had not taken action. After receiving one of the phishing messages, the recipient analysed the email’s technical metadata and spotted the hotel’s IP address. The individual alerted the hotel management, prompting staff to search the premises.
Upon finding the computer concealed behind the refrigerator, the hotel reported the device directly to law enforcement authorities. Police investigators are continuing their inquiry to determine whether the couple planned and controlled the operation themselves or acted as ground-level operators for a larger criminal syndicate.
74 smartphones and 10 million Yen in fraudulent purchasesAuthorities allege that Ye and Shen loaded stolen credit card details onto smartphones to make fraudulent retail purchases across Kobe. A subsequent raid of the couple’s home uncovered a cache of 74 mobile phones. The pair had siphoned roughly 10 million yen (around $63,000) using victims' stolen cards since 2024. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the 74 devices recovered are all their hardware, or whether more phones were used.
The suspects, identified as 39-year-old Ye Jiafeng and his 39-year-old wife, Shen Qi – both local residents – were taken into custody not only for operating the hidden system but also for allegedly using stolen credit card data to finance high-value shopping sprees, Tom’s Hardware reported (via Hackread ). Both individuals now face multiple criminal charges, including computer fraud, trespass and fraudulent obstruction of business.
Hidden behind a fridge: How the phishing PC ranThe operation began on May 15, 2025, when Ye hooked up the computer to the hotel’s wireless internet network and concealed it behind a refrigerator in one of the guest rooms. Once secured in place, the machine was managed remotely, removing any need for either suspect to return to the room for physical maintenance.
Reportedly, operating quietly from its hiding spot, the computer fired off roughly 4.8 lakh fraudulent messages. When investigators finally seized the unit, they found a database containing around 2.4 million email addresses queued up for future phishing runs. The outgoing messages impersonated legitimate credit card issuers, directing recipients to counterfeit landing pages to harvest payment details and security numbers.
How the hidden PC was tracedThe covert setup would likely have continued running unnoticed if an observant recipient had not taken action. After receiving one of the phishing messages, the recipient analysed the email’s technical metadata and spotted the hotel’s IP address. The individual alerted the hotel management, prompting staff to search the premises.
Upon finding the computer concealed behind the refrigerator, the hotel reported the device directly to law enforcement authorities. Police investigators are continuing their inquiry to determine whether the couple planned and controlled the operation themselves or acted as ground-level operators for a larger criminal syndicate.
74 smartphones and 10 million Yen in fraudulent purchasesAuthorities allege that Ye and Shen loaded stolen credit card details onto smartphones to make fraudulent retail purchases across Kobe. A subsequent raid of the couple’s home uncovered a cache of 74 mobile phones. The pair had siphoned roughly 10 million yen (around $63,000) using victims' stolen cards since 2024. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the 74 devices recovered are all their hardware, or whether more phones were used.
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