Between 15 and 18 million US dollars were reportedly embezzled by hackers from FIFA . However, the FBI caught them.
Today, the trial against four alleged hackers begins in Texas. They are accused of embezzling 15 to 18 million US dollars from Electronic Arts through fraud.
Rich through FIFA – but now prison awaits
The focus is on the so-called FIFA Coins, a hotly debated currency in EA’s popular football series, with FIFA 17 currently being the title of the moment. These coins can either be earned in-game or purchased with real money to indirectly acquire them through FIFA Points from EA. Coins are also traded on virtual marketplaces – somewhat like eBay, just a bit grayer.
According to the FBI, the hackers developed a tool that sent false signals to EA’s servers, allowing them to obtain these coins at an insane speed. The FBI believes the defendants then sold these coins on other sites, on these marketplaces, making millions.
It is said that this all started in 2013 and ended in September 2015, when the FBI seized property and investigated the case.
One of the defendants has already pleaded guilty. About 2.9 million US dollars were seized from another’s accounts. Several hundred thousand US dollars were confiscated from the accounts of his alleged accomplices.
Apparently, the defendants had contact with a loose hacker gang called Xbox Underground, who had dealings with the FBI in 2014 – and not in a good way. One of the members of Xbox Underground apparently helped the FBI catch the hackers.
There seems to be no honor among thieves anymore – not even among thieves of virtual goods.
How to acquire FIFA coins without contacting the FBI, you can read here:
