In a groundbreaking case, a Chinese scammer has been handed a 15-month prison sentence and fined 7,000 forminding a sophisticated operation that involved the utilization of 4,600 mobile phones to manipulate live-stream viewer numbers. This intricate scheme enabled him to generate over $415,000 in revenue within four months.
The culprit, known as Wang, was sentenced by a court in Zhejiang province, a prominent center for China’s live-streaming community. Wang’s deception, which entailed fabricating real-time engagements like viewer counts, likes, comments, and shares during live broadcasts, created a false impression of actual viewer engagement to deceive audiences and increase profits for live-stream hosts and companies.
Wang initiated his fraudulent activities towards the end of 2022, following an introduction to the concept of “brushing” by a friend. Brushing involves artificially boosting interactions on live streams to give the impression of a large audience or engagement with the content. This tactic is commonly employed to attract more viewers and advertisers.
To execute his plan, Wang purchased 4,600 mobile phones that were synchronized through specialized cloud software. Additionally, he obtained VPN services and networking equipment, such as routers and switches, from a technology firm in Changsha, Hunan province. This setup enabled Wang to control all the phones simultaneously and inflate activity on live-streaming platforms with just a few clicks on his computer.
Wang stated that the daily expense of operating one mobile phone was under $1. Leveraging this extensive network of phones, he artificially inflated viewer numbers and interactions, offering his services to businesses and live streamers looking to raise their popularity and earnings.
This case has brought attention to potential vulnerabilities in China’s live-streaming ecosystem. Authorities have emphasized the necessity of addressing these gaps to prevent future fraudulent activities and uphold the credibility of the live-streaming sector.
Wang’s conviction serves as a cautionary tale for individuals involved in deceitful practices and highlights the significance of transparency and honesty in the rapidly expanding realm of live-streaming.
