Disclosure Order for Fake Talent Accounts - Nearly Half Originating from Bangladesh, Announced by STARTO Corporation

Disclosure Order for Fake Talent Accounts - Nearly Half Originating from Bangladesh, Announced by STARTO Corporation

2025年08月15日 00:06

1. What Happened (Core of the News)

  • On August 13, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announced that the U.S. Federal Court ordered X to disclose the information of the impersonator accounts of their talents. Of the 73 accounts disclosed by X, at least 35 were operated from Bangladesh, leading users to fraudulent streaming links targeting credit card information. JAMP Portal

  • In English reports, the U.S. court's disclosure order to X, the fake accounts originating from Bangladesh, and the method of luring users with "live viewing" to steal card information have been confirmed. The Japan Times

  • Further domestic reports introduced the background that in May 2025, 36 disclosure orders were issued, of which 21 were from Bangladesh. It is supplemented that multiple disclosure orders were issued by June. Asahi ShimbunNetorabo

Point: Different time slices are reported, such as the count as of the announcement date (August 13) with 35 out of 73, and a partial count as of May with 21 out of 36. Note that the difference in numbers results from the phased disclosure and analysis. JAMP PortalAsahi Shimbun



2. What is STARTO ENTERTAINMENT?

STARTO is a company managing talents from the former Johnny & Associates, with numerous Japanese male idols, actors, and music groups, having enthusiastic fan communities both domestically and internationally. English reports describe it as managing "former members of Johnny and Associates." The Japan Times


3. The Aim and Method of Impersonation

  • Falsely claiming "free live streaming" and "card registration required to view"—a typical phishing scheme exploiting fan psychology. The destination is a fake streaming page suspected of stealing card information via input forms. JAMP PortalThe Japan Times

  • Imitating official accounts: using icons, headers, and usernames similar to the official ones, quoting and reposting the person's posts to create credibility. They align the timing with concert days or just before announcements to increase dissemination power. Such realities are frequently covered in Japanese TV reports and online media. YouTubeNetorabo


4. Why "Originating from Bangladesh" Stood Out (Careful Interpretation)

  • Fact: It has been consistently reported by multiple media that nearly half of the fake accounts disclosed this time were from Bangladesh. JAMP PortalThe Japan Times

  • Caution in Interpretation: This does not determine the country of residence or nationality of the perpetrators but only indicates that the operational base/access point location was shown as such through technical analysis and disclosed information. Avoid stereotyping countries or regions uniformly.

  • Part of the Background: It is pointed out that there are agencies and communities around the world that undertake "click/dissemination delegation" or fraudulent schemes, and geographic dispersion of fraudulent activities on SNS is not uncommon (general statement). clickcease.com


5. Legal Measures and International Collaboration

  • STARTO plans to consult with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request the Bangladeshi authorities to crack down. For fake accounts operated domestically, they will proceed with requests for disclosure of sender information and pursue accountability. JAMP PortalNetorabo

  • The utilization of the U.S. court's disclosure order demonstrates a case of international evidence collection practices, considering the legal location of platform companies (X) and data storage locations. The Japan Times


6. The Role of the Platform

  • X disclosed information based on the court order. This case connects to the international debate on balancing platform transparency and countermeasures against rights infringement and fraud. As regulations and guidelines change in various countries, countermeasures against impersonation of celebrities continue to be questioned. The Japan Times


7. Checklist for Overseas Fans to Protect Themselves

(1) Double-check Official Sources

  • Verify the authentication mark, profile link, and pinned posts on the official site/official SNS of STARTO or individual talents. Bookmark external links and access them later (do not click links immediately in posts).

(2) Inspect Domains and URLs

  • Check for "https" and legitimate domains (e.g., affiliated labels/official streaming platforms). Expand and judge URL shorteners.

(3) Do Not Enter Payment Information Outside Platforms

  • Sites prompting "direct card number entry" for live viewing are high-risk. Purchase legitimate tickets only through official sales channels.

(4) Report Suspicious Accounts

  • Use X's impersonation reporting flow, attaching the URL of the relevant post. If you suspect being a victim, contact your card company immediately to discuss suspension, reissuance, and chargebacks.

(5) Basic Security

  • Enforce two-factor authentication (2FA), strong and unique passwords, and enable phishing warnings.

  • Regularly check card statements and set up fraud detection alerts.


8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. If told "you can watch the official stream for free," is it really a chance?
A. Almost certainly be suspicious. If the official conducts a free stream, the information will appear simultaneously on the official site and major media. "Card registration required at the link" is a red flag. JAMP Portal


Q2. If there are many accesses from overseas, is everything a scam?
A. No. Overseas base ≠ illegal. This time, technical analysis of a specific group of fake accounts indicated many originated from Bangladesh, which is a limited fact. Note that base information is not equal to the nationality of the perpetrators. JAMP Portal


Q3. What if I might have been a victim?
A. Contact your card company to suspend and reissue, report the damage, change passwords, and implement 2FA. Preserve screenshots of SNS interactions and fake sites, and consult the cyber department of your local police.



9. Timeline of the Incident (Based on Confirmed Information)

  • May 2025: A disclosure order was issued by a U.S. court for 36 fake accounts on X. Of these, 21 were from Bangladesh. Asahi Shimbun

  • June 2025: Multiple disclosure orders continued. Netorabo

  • August 13, 2025 (Japan time): STARTO announced the disclosure results. Of the 73 accounts, at least 35 were operated from Bangladesh

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