CREDIT card fraud is typically associated with sophisticated hackers and identity thieves, not aquatic pets.
However, a Japanese YouTube streamer discovered that even the most innocent creatures can inadvertently wreak havoc when left alone with internet access.
Did a tankful of pet fish commit credit card fraud?
Verdict:
TRUE
A tankful of pet fish did indeed commit credit card fraud while their owner was away, in what might be the most unusual case of unauthorized purchases ever recorded.
The incident occurred on the Mutekimaru Channel, a Japanese YouTube channel that streams fish playing video games through a specially designed system.
The streamer developed a rig that uses a webcam to monitor where fish are swimming in their tank, with each section corresponding to a different button on a game controller.
As the fish swim, their movements are translated into inputs for the Nintendo Switch, allowing them to "play" games like Pokémon.
During a stream of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the game crashed while Mutekimaru was away from home, leaving the fish on the Nintendo Switch home screen with complete access to the console.
The fish's random movements led them on an elaborate adventure through the Switch menus.
They first changed the account name from "Mutekimaru" to "ROWAWAWAWA¥", which in hindsight seemed like clear misdirection.
The fish then navigated to the Nintendo eShop, where Mutekimaru's credit card information was saved.
After logging in (the password was also saved), the fish added 500 yen (approximately RM16) to the account.
But they didn't stop there – their swimming led to them logging on to Nintendo Switch Online, earning login bonuses for their owner in the process.
They then spent reward points to purchase a cosmetic upgrade for Nintendo Switch Sports, specifically choosing a light-blue hairstyle called "mizuiro" in Japanese, which literally means "water colour".
The fish also downloaded the Nintendo 64 emulator before finally turning the console off, as if trying to cover their tracks.
The entire seven-hour crime spree was broadcast live to viewers on YouTube, inadvertently exposing Mutekimaru's credit card details to the audience.
Mutekimaru discovered the fraud when he began receiving e-mail from Nintendo thanking them for their purchases.
Despite the panic, Mutekimaru found the incident incredibly humorous and created a video recapping the "fish fraud", jokingly asking if the fish were professionals.
When requesting a refund, Mutekimaru had to type into Nintendo customer support: "I am very sorry, but is it possible to get a refund for items purchased in error by my pet fish?" along with video evidence.
Nintendo accepted the refund request and returned the 500 yen, though unfortunately not the reward points.
This isn't the first time Mutekimaru's fish have made gaming history. Back in 2020, a team of fish successfully completed Pokémon Sapphire, a feat that took over 3,000 hours compared to the typical 30 hours for human players.
The incident serves as a reminder to always log out of accounts with saved payment information and perhaps to supervise your pets more carefully when they're streaming video games.
References:
1. https://www.techspot.com/news/
2. https://kotaku.com/pokemon-
3. https://www.ign.com/articles/
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
