A Chinese man has been arrested for running a sophisticated operation involving hundreds of mobile phones to game online live-stream raffles.
In a bizarre twist, a man in Jiangsu Province, China, was apprehended for allegedly manipulating live-stream raffles. Authorities discovered that the individual, identified only as Ma, had been using over 400 mobile phones simultaneously to increase his chances of winning prizes.
The scheme was uncovered when a vigilant neighbor noticed the unusual activity emanating from a garage in a residential compound. Concerned about the potential for illegal activity, the neighbor alerted the police. Upon investigation, authorities found that Ma had set up a complex network of devices, each linked to a separate account on a live-streaming platform.
These live-stream events often feature “lucky bags,” virtual prizes that can be won by viewers who click a button and send a specific message. By using multiple devices, Ma was able to increase his chances of being selected as a winner.
The prizes varied in value, ranging from everyday items to high-end electronics like iPhones and printers. Ma would then resell these winnings on second-hand e-commerce platforms, earning a substantial income.
To avoid the need for multiple SIM cards, Man purchased existing accounts that were already registered with personal information. This practice, however, violated Chinese law, leading to charges of infringing on personal information.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many expressing astonishment at the lengths to which some individuals will go to win online prizes. Some have even suggested that this practice is becoming increasingly common, highlighting the potential for abuse in such systems.
