Black Neon Tetra Credit Card Fraud | What is it

The phrase “black neon tetra credit card fraud” refers to a specific, widely reported incident involving a Japanese YouTuber and their pet fish.

In January 2023, a YouTuber named “Mutekimaru Channel,” known for using motion-tracking software to let his pet fish play video games, had a remarkable and unexpected event occur during a livestream. While playing Pokémon Violet, the game crashed, giving the fish free access to the Nintendo Switch’s main menu.

The black neon tetras, by swimming around in their tank, triggered inputs that:

• Opened the Nintendo eShop.
• Added 500 yen (about $3.85 USD) to their owner’s account.
• Exposed his credit card details on the livestream.
• Downloaded an N64 emulator.
• Set up a PayPal account.
• Used reward points to buy an avatar.
• Changed the owner’s Nintendo account name.

The fish’s “shopping spree” lasted for about seven hours before their movements eventually shut down the Nintendo Switch. This incident was widely reported by news outlets as a bizarre and humorous case of “credit card fraud” committed by pet fish.

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What to do if you are a victim of credit card fraud (human-caused or otherwise):

If you notice unauthorized charges on your credit card, you should take immediate action to protect yourself.

1. Contact your financial institution immediately.

   • Call the customer service number on the back of your card or on your bank’s website. Report the fraudulent charges and ask them to freeze or block your account and issue a new card.

2. Change your passwords.

   • If your card was compromised through an online account, change the password for that account and any other accounts that use the same password.

3. Check your credit report.

   • Monitor your credit report for any new accounts or fraudulent activity. You can get a free report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once a year.

4. File a police report.

   • While this may seem extreme for a small amount, a police report can be helpful documentation for your bank and for other entities if the fraud is part of a larger identity theft scheme.

5. Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

   • You can file a report at IdentityTheft.gov, which can provide a personalized recovery plan.