Chinese entrepreneurs have found a lucrative market in selling smartphone motherboards and providing management kits to operators involved in various scams and criminal activities. State television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) exposed this underground industry through an undercover investigation.
The investigation revealed chassis containing 20 smartphone motherboards each, connected to a monitor that displayed the screens of all 20 units. Additionally, a data center filled with racks housing numerous chassis and up to 1,000 smartphones was uncovered. The perpetrators ensure that each phone is logged into a unique account and constantly change IP addresses to avoid detection by online platforms and authorities.
These smartphones are used for nefarious purposes such as posting fake comments, generating likes with SEO-boosting links, and placing fake orders on e-commerce websites. The operators reportedly charge between RMB3,000 ($417) and RMB6,000 ($834) for a 20-smartphone system.
One manager of a smartphone rental facility admitted to CCTV that he does not know the identity of his clients, preferring a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to his business. This lack of transparency adds to the illicit nature of these operations.
While major e-commerce platforms have blocked search terms related to these phone farms, the perpetrators continue to find ways to offer their services. Some even provide management software that enables screen mirroring, remote access, and file transfers. Cloud-based solutions are also gaining popularity as they reduce reliance on physical hardware.
Despite attempts to portray these setups as legitimate, a report by Jiemian News found that over 23 percent of businesses involved in mobile phone motherboard-related activities have encountered legal issues, although only a fraction have faced administrative penalties.
The proliferation of smartphone motherboards being used for scams and crimes underscores the need for more stringent regulations and enforcement within the telecommunications industry. Authorities must work together with online platforms to detect and dismantle these operations, safeguarding the integrity of digital spaces and protecting unsuspecting users.
The underground industry of selling smartphone motherboards and management kits to operators involved in scams and criminal activities in China has raised concerns about the integrity of the telecommunications industry. State television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) recently conducted an undercover investigation, exposing the scale of this lucrative market.
The investigation revealed that these operators use chassis containing 20 smartphone motherboards connected to a monitor that displayed the screens of all 20 units. They also maintain data centers filled with racks housing numerous chassis and up to 1,000 smartphones. To evade detection by online platforms and authorities, the perpetrators often change the IP addresses of the smartphones and ensure that each phone is logged into a unique account.
The primary purpose of these smartphones is to engage in nefarious activities such as posting fake comments, generating likes with SEO-boosting links, and placing fake orders on e-commerce websites. Operators reportedly charge between RMB3,000 ($417) and RMB6,000 ($834) for a 20-smartphone system.
One of the concerning aspects of this underground industry is the lack of transparency. The manager of a smartphone rental facility admitted to CCTV that he does not know the identity of his clients, preferring a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach. This secrecy adds to the illicit nature of these operations and makes it challenging for authorities to crack down on them.
Major e-commerce platforms have taken steps to block search terms related to these phone farms. However, the perpetrators continue to find ways to offer their services, even providing management software that enables screen mirroring, remote access, and file transfers. Cloud-based solutions have also gained popularity as they reduce reliance on physical hardware.
Although some attempts have been made to portray these setups as legitimate, a report by Jiemian News discovered that over 23 percent of businesses involved in mobile phone motherboard-related activities have encountered legal issues. However, only a fraction of them have faced administrative penalties.
The proliferation of smartphone motherboards being used for scams and crimes highlights the urgent need for more stringent regulations and enforcement within the telecommunications industry. It is crucial for authorities to collaborate with online platforms to detect and dismantle these operations, safeguarding the integrity of digital spaces and protecting unsuspecting users.
The source of the article is from the blog newyorkpostgazette.com