'Ultimate Team' scheme: EA hackers charged for stealing in-game coins
Anthony Clark has been charged by the Northern Texas District Court with a count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud for his role in a scheme to automatically generate and then re-sell the digital coins used to purchase perks in FIFA Ultimate Team on the PlayStation and Xbox console lines.
The "Ultimate Team" mode allows players to construct their own football squad using virtual player cards. Those cards are purchased with virtual currency that can be bought or earned through in-game accomplishments (such as playing online matches).
Those virtual coins can be traded between users and are commonly sold outside of the game for real-world money via unauthorized black market sites.
According to the FBI's indictment of Clark, he and three others used a specially crafted app to trick EA servers into giving them in-game currency by sending in fake "completed game" reports and getting the coins as a reward.
Having used the application to fraudulently "mine" the coins, the group then connected with re-sellers in Asia and Europe, who purchased the bulk loads and then re-sold the coins to players.
The FBI believes the scheme netted Clark and his co-conspirators, one of whom has already taken a plea deal, millions of dollars from the re-sale of the stolen coins.
Among the tools used in the scheme was FIFA source code and developer tools the group allegedly obtained from the hackers behind the massive Microsoft, Valve and EA hacking spree. Two of those hackers, Austin Alcala and Nathan Leroux, are set to testify as witnesses in the case.
Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum
Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/11/14/ea_hackers_charged_for_stealing_game_coins/
Related Articles
Comments
BPMPosted:
Doesnt matter how many coins you bought, Chem gate proved the better players were deemed useless so FBI may investigate EA while they're at it. ;)
OGPosted:
Whaaaaaaat! As a long time player of FIFA ultimate team, I could see they be making that much money but I never thought they would actually get in trouble with the law. This will show youtubers and all players that a simple ban from EA wont stop the law enforcement from reaching out to you. Hopefully this makes youtubers stop promoting coin sites as well.
CearnsyPosted:
Lots of money to be made from coins in this game so no surprise they're being charged with it
Latest Downloads
- 01. Caribbean Legend: SaveGame (before the start of the Dutch Gambit)(0)
- 02. Caribbean Legend: SaveGame (Passed the Secret Organization Gambit) [v1.0.0](0)
- 03. Jalopy: SaveGame (Pumped up LaikaGT)(0)
- 04. Assassin's Creed 3: Save Game (Game completed 8%, until Chapter 4)(3)
- 05. Supermarket Simulator: SaveGame (Quick start, 172 day, 65lvl)(0)
- 06. GoreBox: SaveGame (Ancient village of the Paleozoic era)(0)
- 07. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005) - SaveGame (0% career, 2 BMWs in the garage)(0)
- 08. [EU] CARX DRIFT RACING ONLINE - PROGRESS SAVE 6 SP DUO (CUSA15633)(5)
- 09. Fallout Shelter Modded Save PC(2)
- 10. Remember Me: SaveGame (The Game done 100%)(0)
- 11. The Long Drive: SaveGame (American pickup)(0)
- 12. Goemon's Great Adventure (US / NTSC) - Nintendo 64 Game Save(1)
- 13. The Long Drive: SaveGame (blue VW Beetle)(0)
- 14. Deadly Creatures | Complete Savegame(1)
- 15. Driift Mania | 100% Savegame(0)
Latest Tutorials
- 01. The Redress Of Mira 100% Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement(511)
- 02. Russian Pinocchio Quick Trophy Guide(624)
- 03. Venatrix Quick Trophy & Achievement Guide(618)
- 04. Call of the Sea 100% Platinum Walkthrough(720)
- 05. Wire Lips 100% Platinum Walkthrough(706)
- 06. The Expanse 100% Platinum Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement(673)
- 07. Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality - PS4 Platinum P/Thru(598)
- 08. Doctor Who:The Lonely Assassins - 100% Guide(533)
- 09. DAYMARE 1998 PS4 - Full game 100% TROPHY WALKTHROUGH(507)
- 10. Stray Platinum Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement Guide(519)
- 11. Raji: An Ancient Epic | Complete Gameplay Walkthrough(677)
- 12. Corpse Killer: 25th Anniversary Edition - Longplay(683)
- 13. Song of Horror: Complete Edition Gameplay Walkthrough(439)
- 14. Remoteness 100% All Trophies Walkthrough(676)
- 15. Detective Inspector Mysterious Clues Platinum Walkthrough(549)
"'Ultimate Team' scheme: EA hackers charged for stealing in-game coins" :: Login/Create an Account :: 27 comments