Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a 31‑year‑old Chinese national, Yu Haiyong, on Sunday for allegedly using a fake base station to interfere with mobile communications in Tokyo’s busy districts. Police said Yu was caught driving a car in Ginza on the afternoon of the 7th, emitting interference signals that disabled 4G and 5G networks within a 500‑metre radius. The interference forced victims’ phones to downgrade to 2G, allowing Yu’s IMSI‑catcher device to capture mobile identifiers and send phishing text messages. The messages claimed that “credit‑card payment functions have been temporarily disabled due to overseas fraud risks” and directed recipients to a counterfeit website where they were asked to enter credit‑card details. Police estimate that the interference could have affected at least 10,000 smartphones each day. Yu has reportedly carried out similar operations in Shinjuku and Shibuya, and police have received 18 complaints from Chinese tourists since January of this year, with an estimated total loss of 4 million yen (about 20 million Hong Kong dollars). This case marks the first time Japan has investigated a fake base‑station operation on the grounds of disrupting mobile communications. Police are examining whether the activity is linked to an organized crime group. Yu was detained on suspicion of violating the Radio Law. He denied using any radio equipment, saying he was unaware of the alleged wrongdoing.
Article source: Sing Tao Electronic Daily | Image credit: Sing Tao Electronic Daily