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KF5JRV > TECH 30.10.19 14:02l 22 Lines 1421 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 16854_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Cyber Money Laundry
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N3HYM<NS2B<KF5JRV
Sent: 191030/1144Z 16854@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQK6.0.18
Criminals have found a clever way clean dirty money, Vice reports — by exploiting an online marketplace for video game loot boxes.
“Counter-Strike: Global Offensiveö (CS:GO) is a popular first person shooter by developer Valve. But it lets players buy and sell “container keysö to unlock in-game collectibles — and cybercriminals have been using that marketplace as a massive money laundering scheme.
“At this point, nearly all key purchases that end up being traded or sold on the marketplace are believed to be fraud-sourced,ö Valve admitted Monday in a blog post. “As a result we have decided that newly purchased keys will not be tradeable or marketable.ö
Muh Gains
It’s a troubling sign that seemingly innocent online marketplaces can be used in all sorts of shady ways.
Fortunately, Valve has since decided to shut down the resale of keys on the marketplace in an effort to put a stop to the practice. In an unusually forthright update log, Valve justified its decision by explaining that “worldwide fraud networks have recently shifted to using CS:GO keys to liquidate their gains.ö
Skin Game
It’s not the first time the developer has dealt with trouble on its CS:GO marketplace.
In 2017, two popular YouTubers had to settle with the Federal Trade Commission after allowing fans to gamble online for valuable in-game skins.
73, Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV @ KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
Email: KF5JRV@GMAIL.com
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