Renzhong Chen, Sheng Li and Xiaoxin Zheng jailed for hacking scheme

Three Chinese men have been jailed after targeting “everyday people” including an AFL star in a nationwide hacking scamthat asked people to update their payment details.

An AFL premiership player was one of many “everyday people” innocently caught up in an elaborate nationwide hacking scheme over which three men have been jailed.

Renzhong Chen, 31, Sheng Li, 24 and Xiaoxin Zheng, 20 pleaded guilty to more than 180 counts including aggravated theft and identification theft in the Port Adelaide Magistrate Court on Wednesday.

In sentencing the trio for their almost month-long offending, the court heard AFL Richmond premiership player Dion Prestia was one of the victims who had their bank details stolen.

Dion Prestia of the Tigers was a victim of the hack. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty

Chen, Li and Zheng had been tasked with what they determined to be a “holiday”, travelling to South Australia in October of 2022 from Western Australia, where they booked an Airbnb in North Haven.

The three men also rented four different types of vehicles, including a luxurious Mercedes they used to travel to Kangaroo Island for a break.

It was in their Airbnb, the men “loaded up” multiple mobile phone electronic wallets with the stolen bank details and proceeded to move around multiple suburbs in Adelaide across 16 days, using the stolen details at shops such as Coles, Officeworks, Kmart, Priceline, Target and supermarket chains.

The court heard the men obtained the card details after SMS messages – also known as phishing – had been sent out asking the victims to either update their account details or that their payment was not valid for accounts such as Netflix, Foxtel, Spotify and other streaming services.

Some victims received multiple messages, until they responded.

There were a total of 28 victims including those where attempts were made, across Australia except the ACT and Tasmania.

The ages of the victims ranged from teenagers to those in their late 50s.

“Identifying these victims was a time-consuming process,” Magistrate Jay Pandya said.

“Sadly when some of the victims were contacted by the police, believed they were being scammed and did not believe the calls.

“The offending was difficult to detect, but easy for you to commit.”

At an earlier hearing, the court heard from multiple victims about the “financial crisis” the men had caused.

The Advertiser understands Mr Prestia’s details were attempted to be used on November 16.

Renzhong Chen, Sheng Li and Xiaoxin Zheng sentenced over elaborate hacking scheme.

“You would attend stores and buy all sorts of things … You would tap your phones on the EFTPOS terminals until your card was declined,” Magistrate Pandya said.

“You would then swap cards that had been loaded across your multiple phones.”

The total compensation ordered by the court is $26,427.05, to be divided up by the three men to pay the victims back.

“While you might take the view that the amount is not significant, it is your actions and your persistent to offend that make this crime so serious,” Magistrate Pandya said.

Due to the sheer number of charges against each of the men, they will also attract a victim of crime levy bill worth more than $80,000.

Zheng was sentenced to 13 months and one week imprisonment with a non-parole period of 10 months, backdated to November 17, 2022, the day the men were arrested and taken into custody.

Chen was sentenced to one year and five months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 12 months, again backdated to the day of his arrest.

Li, was sentenced to one month imprisonment, beginning October 18, 2023, due to time served in custody and on home detention.