Scammers Used Hotel Room for Phishing Campaign and Theft

Police in Kobe, Japan, have arrested two Chinese nationals who used a hotel room to send phishing emails. The suspects hid a mini-PC behind a refrigerator in the hotel and controlled it remotely via Wi-Fi.

Hidden mailing station

In May 2025, a 39-year-old man checked into a luxury hotel under a false name. He installed a screenless mini-computer behind a refrigerator, plugged it into the power outlet and network, and then left the room. The remote device sent emails appearing to be from credit card issuers, containing links to fake websites.

Financial fraud methods

The arrestees made money by stealing bank card data. The stolen data was loaded onto smartphones, which were then used for purchases in stores. Total damages amounted to approximately 10 million yen. During the search, police seized 74 smartphones from the suspects.

Police suspect involvement of a Chinese criminal group. Previously, a similar hidden installation was discovered in another hotel after a strange noise was reported.

Criminal network in hotels