The Use of Fortnite’s In-Game Currency for Money Laundering
Criminals have found a way to exploit Fortnite’s in-game currency, V-Bucks, to launder money, according to a report by The Independent.
Within Fortnite, players can purchase cosmetic items using V-Bucks to enhance their gameplay experience. However, criminals on the dark web are offering V-Bucks at significantly reduced prices to unsuspecting players.
A joint investigation conducted by The Independent and cyber security firm Sixgill revealed the tactics used by these scammers. The criminals use stolen credit cards to obtain V-Bucks, which are then transferred to the buyer’s account. They are subsequently paid by the buyer using legal currency through cryptocurrencies. Essentially, this transforms Fortnite into a tool for money laundering.
Benjamin Preminger, a senior intelligence analyst at Sixgill, expressed his concern about Epic Games’ lack of action against these scammers, stating that they take advantage of the company’s “weak security measures.” He added, “This directly affects the ability of threat actors to launder money through the game.”
Epic Games advises players in loading screen messages to “only you can prevent V-Bucks scams,” but Preminger suggests that the company can also take action. He proposes measures such as monitoring high-value item transfers within the game, identifying players with large stockpiles of V-Bucks, and sharing data with law enforcement agencies to combat this issue.
The criminals deceive players by posing as wealthy individuals who want to help them obtain V-Bucks, accepting payments in bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies to make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track the money.
Epic Games has refrained from providing specific comments regarding this particular case. However, the company has emphasized that the only legitimate ways to acquire V-Bucks are through purchase or by earning them in Save the World or Battle Royale modes.