Re-arrest of Unity, Operator of 'SNS School' — Surge in Consultations, Chargeback Negotiations Ongoing

Ishida Legal Office, a certified judicial scrivener firm (Katsushika City, Tokyo; Representative: Tomotsugu Ishida), announces the continuation of free refund consultations for individuals who paid tuition or product fees via credit card, following the re-arrest of Masago Shingo, representative of Unity Co., Ltd. (Kita-ku, Osaka; formerly Second Innovation LLC), and others on fraud charges on July 1, 2026.

Summary of Re-arrest

On July 1, 2026, Osaka Prefectural Police announced the re-arrest of 13 individuals, including Masago Shingo, representative of Unity Co., Ltd., on suspicion of fraud (as reported by Yomiuri Shimbun and Kyodo News on July 1, 2026).

The current charges involve a different method from the previous case (announced June 10, 2026, with 41 arrests) related to fraudulent tuition collection from 'SNS School.' According to reports, the suspect group purchased multiple popular influencer accounts (totaling approximately 500,000 followers), such as those sharing baby food recipes, through intermediaries. They impersonated the account owners and posted false claims like 'earned 100,000 yen in just two months,' deceiving individuals into paying cash under the guise of lecture fees (information product fees) for side-hustle income.

Osaka Prefectural Police believe the suspect group operated dozens of accounts and are investigating further, including potential additional crimes.

'AI Writing' and 'Jibun Brand' — Multiple Brands Under Different Names

It has been revealed that Unity Co., Ltd. originally operated under the name 'Second Innovation LLC,' using service names such as 'AI Writing' and 'Jibun Brand.' In September 2025, the company changed its name to 'Unity Co., Ltd.' and continued operations under the 'SNS School' brand.

Thus, it appears the operator repeatedly launched multiple services using the same tactic—impersonating influencers—while changing company and service names. Individuals who contracted or made payments under names like 'AI Writing' or 'Jibun Brand' may also be victims of the same group.

Consultation Status at Our Office

Since the previous press release (published June 24, 2026), we have received numerous inquiries regarding refund consultations for credit card payments. With the recent re-arrest news, we expect even more consultations.

Refund Possibility Varies Significantly by Payment Method

With the operators now arrested, direct refund negotiations are practically impossible. The possibility of recovery largely depends on the payment method used.

- Payment Method: Bank Transfer - Current Status: High likelihood of frozen accounts or insufficient funds - Refund Possibility: Very difficult

- Payment Method: Credit Card - Current Status: Chargeback application to the card issuer is possible - Refund Possibility: Possible

Chargeback is a system allowing credit card users to request a refund from the card issuer when they do not receive the purchased goods or services. Given that the operators have been arrested and cannot continue services, the conditions for chargeback may be met.

However, chargeback applications have deadlines. The longer one waits, the more difficult the process becomes. Those who suspect they may be victims are urged to consult early.

Ishida Legal Office's Response

Based on our track record of resolving over 2,000 fraud-related refund cases, we continue to support victims in this case.

While individuals can file chargeback applications themselves, the process involves complex procedures such as negotiations with card companies, preparation of required documents, and responding to disputes—challenging for those unfamiliar with the system.

Our office handles all these procedures on behalf of clients.

We welcome consultations not only from 'SNS School' users but also from those who contracted under names like 'AI Writing' or 'Jibun Brand,' even if they only suspect they may have been deceived. For this case, both initial consultation and upfront fees are free.

Comment from the Representative Judicial Scrivener

'The re-arrest of representative Masago and others on separate charges highlights once again that this operator group did not limit itself to a single service but repeatedly used the same tactics while changing company and brand names.

Individuals who paid under names like 'AI Writing' or 'Jibun Brand,' not just 'SNS School' tuition, may also be victims of the same group. If this sounds familiar, please consult us regardless of the service name.

Chargeback applications for credit card payments have deadlines. While monitoring the investigation's progress, it's crucial to proactively initiate available procedures early to increase the chances of a refund.'

— Tomotsugu Ishida, Judicial Scrivener

Profile of the Commentator

- Name: Tomotsugu Ishida - Title: Representative Judicial Scrivener, Ishida Legal Office - Background: Passed the judicial scrivener exam in 2008. Worked at a major law firm from 2009, then established Ishida Legal Office in 2022. Has resolved over 2,000 fraud-related refund cases. - Specialization: Side-hustle scams, information product fraud, dating site scams, gambling site fraud, etc.

Consultation Channels

Please mention 'Consultation Request for SNS School, AI Writing, Jibun Brand Victim Refund' when contacting the following:

- Consultation Method: LINE Official Account (24/7) - Details: https://page.line.me/523jysou

- Consultation Method: Email (24/7) - Details: https://ishida-legal.com/contact/

- Consultation Method: Phone (Weekdays 9:00–18:00) - Details: 03-6231-3236

Firm Overview and Case Inquiries

- Name: Ishida Legal Office - Representative: Tomotsugu Ishida, Representative Judicial Scrivener - Affiliation: Tokyo Judicial Scrivener Association No. 5135 / Certified for Simplified Litigation Agency No. 801318 - Established: 2022 - Services: Fraud victim refund negotiations (certified judicial scrivener services), various judicial scrivener services

### Fraud-Related Inquiries

- LINE Official Account: https://page.line.me/523jysou (24/7) - Email: https://ishida-legal.com/contact/ (24/7) - Phone: 03-6231-3236 (Weekdays 9:00–18:00)

### Case-Specific Inquiries

- Public Relations Contact, Ishida Legal Office - Email: https://ishida-legal.com/contact/ - Phone: 03-6231-3236 (Weekdays 9:00–18:00)

For Media and Article Use

When quoting this press release in articles, please:

- Include a link to the official website of Ishida Legal Office (https://ishida-legal.com/) - Reference the related article (https://ishida-legal.com/soudan-unity-202607/)