In the USA, a librarian invested huge sums into a free-to-play mobile game. To pay for the microtransactions, he embezzled money and forged invoices. He has now been convicted.
Librarian loses job: Adam Winger was the director of the North Logan City Library in Utah, USA. He resigned from this position in 2017.
The reasons for this are quite bizarre and are related to the mobile game Game of War.
Game of War is a rather complex strategy game that supermodel Kate Upton once advertised. In the game, you build buildings and armies. A lot of time passes before they are finished, unless you pay real money.
Over $80,000 sunk into mobile game
Winger was apparently a big fan of the mobile game. He splurged enormous amounts in the game. In the end, it is said that the library director spent over $89,000 in Game of War.
All stolen! That alone would be bad enough, but much of it was not even Winger’s own money. To finance his hobby, Winger misappropriated a lot of entrusted finances.
He used, among other things, his city-issued credit card to buy vouchers for real currency in Game of War through various Amazon accounts.
Virtual empires instead of books: To cover his tracks, he forged invoices so that no one noticed he was buying vouchers for online games instead of library equipment and books.
Career, house, and retirement gone because of Kate Upton’s game
Court passes sentence: In the end, Winger’s scheme was uncovered, and he was charged with theft and forgery. The verdict was passed this week:
Adam Winger, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 100 hours of community service. He also has to pay back $78,000 in restitution.
Trade prison for house: Winger was actually able to come up with this huge sum because he drained his retirement fund and sold his house.
However, in the end, he was spared from prison. The life of 38-year-old Winger is likely ruined for now.
And all because of a mediocre freemium game with Kate Upton.
