Six in Tokyo slammer after Android smut scam
Six men including three IT executives have been arrested in Tokyo in connection with an Android malware scam which netted them over 20 million yen (£160,740).
Japan’s first arrests for the crime of distributing a smartphone virus came after over 9,000 people downloaded malware disguised as an application designed to play videos, according to the Daily Yomiuri.
The group, which is also being investigated on suspicion of developing the virus, decided to distribute it on an adult site it created, presumably luring victims into paying with the promise of being able to view video content. Once downloaded onto a user’s phone, the app displayed a message demanding payment of 99,800 yen (£803), with the notice continuing to be displayed even when the victim tried to turn the device off.
