A man smokes an e-cigarette in Hong Kong in October. Photo: Nora Tam
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https://scmp.com/news/china/article/3018459/chinese-student-yu-huiling-arrested-japan-alleged-theft-7-elevens-7pay China
Chinese student Yu Huiling arrested in Japan for alleged theft via 7-Eleven’s 7pay smartphone service
- Yu is third Chinese suspect in case possibly linked to China-based international crime organisation
- Part-timer at Tokyo convenience store believed to have used stolen IDs to buy items like e-cigarette cartridges and cosmetics
A pedestrian walks in front of a sign at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Tokyo in April 2016. Photo: Reuters
Police arrested a Chinese student on Friday in connection with alleged theft via the new smartphone payment service “7pay” for 7-Eleven convenience stores – the third suspect in the case possibly linked to a China-based international crime organisation.
Yu Huiling, 21, a part-timer at a 7-Eleven outlet in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward, is suspected of using stolen IDs for unauthorised access of the newly launched cashless payment service to buy around 32,000 yen (US$295) worth of 15 items including e-cigarette cartridges and cosmetics at the shop she worked for.
Seven & i Holdings’ 7pay has been hit with numerous cases of unauthorised access since the payment service was launched on July 1 at over 20,000 outlets across Japan. The company has since suspended accepting new users or allowing users of the service to add money to its smartphone application.
Just last week, police arrested two Chinese men, who used stolen IDs to settle payment for e-cigarettes at a 7-Eleven outlet in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward, on suspicion of attempted fraud.
Yu told investigators she had received a message from a Chinese friend offering money in exchange for help in purchasing cigarettes on 7pay, via the social messaging app WeChat on July 3, according to the police.
The suspect allegedly used the 7pay IDs and passwords of several people to settle payments for the 15 items during her shift at the convenience store between 10pm on July 4 and 12.45am the following day.
Yu was quoted as saying she had planned to send the items via a courier service, police said.
The incident came to light when a man contacted the store after noticing the transaction in his purchase history immediately after payment was made.
Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry said last week that Seven & i had failed to strictly follow guidelines to prevent unauthorised access, and warned providers of similar services to ensure they confirm the identity of users.