Whether you play mobile or browser games, you've likely heard of "top-up services." Known as "payment proxy services" in Japan, these involve entrusting a third party with real money to purchase in-game items or currency. However, this practice has also led to many unscrupulous operators engaging in fraudulent activities.
SEGA Japan issued an official announcement today (March 19) on its website, alerting players to issues concerning illegal in-game purchases and explaining recent cases involving "Real Money Trading (RMT)" websites that sell in-game currency, items, and accounts. SEGA strongly urged players to avoid using so-called "top-up services."
According to SEGA Japan's official announcement:
In August 2024, multiple individuals were arrested and found guilty of "computer fraud" for allegedly defrauding virtual currency from SEGA game apps. The individuals involved in this case included:
Fraud groups offering "top-up services", who attracted customers through "Real Money Trading (RMT)" websites and sent false information to SEGA servers to fraudulently obtain in-game currency. And SEGA game players who used "top-up services", i.e., users who obtained in-game currency through illicit means.
The group then sold the illegally obtained in-game currency at low prices on RMT websites under the guise of "payment proxy top-ups." This case not only led to the arrest of the fraud group members, but also resulted in players who purchased in-game currency through this method being deemed complicit in illegal activities, arrested, prosecuted, and ultimately found guilty.
The official statement strongly urges players not to use any "payment proxy top-up" related services! To prevent similar incidents, SEGA strictly prohibits all activities related to illegal in-game purchases, including:
✅ Transferring or renting game accounts to third parties
✅ Using any external services that lead to illegal in-game purchases
If SEGA discovers any such violations, accounts will be immediately suspended, and suspicious cases will be actively reported to the police. To avoid involvement in similar crimes, absolutely do not use the following services!
✅ "Payment proxy top-up" services (any form of third-party top-up service)
✅ "Top-up points," "top-up credit"
✅ "In-game currency purchasing agents," "in-game currency injection"
✅ Any service that purchases paid currency or in-game items on your behalf
✅ Actions explicitly prohibited by SEGA (violations will result in suspension)
Any actions that violate the law or induce or promote illegal activities, such as using hacks, cheat programs, or illegally cracking games, as well as transferring or renting accounts to third parties, are also strictly prohibited by official policy.
While these types of top-up service scams have been increasing in Japan in recent years, they often target young players who cannot use credit cards for in-game purchases, thereby defrauding them.
In a case similar to the one SEGA officially mentioned from August 2024, a criminal group used RMT websites, soliciting players willing to transfer or rent their accounts under the guise of "payment proxy top-up services." They then used these accounts to send false information to SEGA servers, illegally obtaining in-game currency, which they sold at below-market prices on RMT websites. These individuals were arrested for "computer fraud," and even the players who used their services were found guilty.
Of course, not all "top-up services" are fraudulent or illegal, and perhaps using legitimate channels for in-game purchases is the best approach. However, many games have region-locked payment issues, and how to overcome these challenges will depend on how official channels respond.
via： SEGA 官網