Security News > 2024 > March > Exposed: Chinese smartphone farms that run thousands of barebones mobes to do crime

Chinese upstarts are selling smartphone motherboards - and kit to run and manage them at scale - to operators of outfits that use them to commit various scams and crimes, according to an undercover investigation by state television broadcaster China Central Television revealed late last week.

The report shows what appear to be chassis filled with 20 smartphone motherboards each, wired to a monitor that displays the screens of all 20 units.

The phones are each signed in to a unique account, and operators take care to change their IP addresses often - to evade detection by online platforms or regulatory authorities, alleged CCTV. That's because the phones are used for purposes such as posting fake comments or likes - some with SEO-boosting links - or placing fake orders on e-commerce sites.

Chinese local media outlet Jiemian News reported that major e-commerce platforms like Taobao and Poinduoduo have blocked search terms that would help buyers find phone farms, or the builders of the kit they run.

Others offer cloudy smartphones - to reduce dependence on hardware.

Jiemian News reported that among the businesses engaged in mobile phone motherboard-related business, over 23 percent have run into legal trouble - but fewer than three percent have faced administrative penalties.

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