Chinese man operates 400 phones to win live-stream gifts in elaborate scam

The man admitted to linking each phone to a separate live-streaming account. (Representational)

A man in eastern China was arrested for running over 400 mobile phones simultaneously to increase his chances of winning prizes during live-streams. The operation was discovered in a residential garage in Jiangsu province.

The man, identified only by his surname, Ma, was caught after an elderly resident noticed unusual activity in the garage and reported it to authorities. Initial suspicions pointed to a potential scam. However, a deeper investigation revealed a complex scheme focused on winning "lucky bags" – prizes distributed randomly during live-streams.

Ma admitted to linking each phone to a separate live-streaming account. By participating in live-streams en masse, he increased his odds of winning the coveted lucky bags. These prizes, offered by live-streamers to boost viewer engagement, ranged from daily-use items to high-value electronics like iPhones.

"The process was simple. You just had to click a button, send a message, and wait for the lucky draw to conclude," Ma explained during police questioning, South China Morning Post reported. Once the prizes were secured, he sold them on second-hand e-commerce platforms, earning an estimated monthly income of 10,000 to 20,000 yuan (approximately ₹1.1 lakh to ₹2.3 lakh).

However, Ma's strategy involved a critical legal violation. He bypassed registering new accounts by purchasing real-name registered accounts online. These accounts contained personal information, and their use without consent constitutes a breach of China’s laws on personal information protection.

While the authorities have not disclosed Ma’s exact punishment, Chinese Criminal Law prescribes up to three years in prison or fines for individuals involved in obtaining, selling, or misusing citizens’ personal data.

Last year, reports revealed fraudulent companies using hundreds of devices to artificially inflate live-stream traffic, duping businesses into paying for non-existent audience engagement.