The path from child entertainment to the criminal case turned out to be very short.
Gaming accounts have long ceased to be just profiles for entertainment. Inside, rare items can be stored, currency bought for real money and years of progress, so such accounts are increasingly becoming a target for cybercriminals. Ukrainian law enforcement officers have uncovered a group that, according to the investigation, turned the theft of game profiles into the shadow business with a turnover of almost 10 million hryvnias.
The Ukrainian Cyber Policeсообщила on the detention of three residents of the Lviv region at the age of 19, 21 and 22 years. The organizer of the scheme, law enforcement officers consider a 19-year-old resident of Drohobych. He, according to the investigation, he found on thematic game resources in 2025.
The group gained access to someone else's profiles using a malware that stole confidential data from victims' devices. Such software was disguised as tools for game bonuses or simplifying passage. After infection, the attackers could log into the accounts without the knowledge of the owners and check how valuable each profile was.
Of particular interest were accounts with rare items limited to equipment and the residue of virtual currency. According to law enforcement officers, for several months the defendants gained access to more than 610 thousand game profiles. Some of the Ukrainian media with reference to the Office of the Prosecutor General clarifies that it was about Roblox accounts.
The stolen profiles were sold for cryptocurrency in closed online communities. The cyber police found more than 300 records with data on the so-called elite accounts. The preliminary amount of illegal trafficking was estimated at almost 10 million hryvnias.
During 10 searches, police seized 37 mobile phones, 11 system units, 7 laptops, 5 tablets, flash drives, bank cards, draft records, as well as a large amount in cash in dollars and euros. The analysis of the technique is still ongoing.
The detainees were informed about the suspicion of articles on theft and unauthorized interference in the work of information systems. The court sent the defendants into custody. With proven guilt, they face up to 15 years in prison.
Gaming accounts have long ceased to be just profiles for entertainment. Inside, rare items can be stored, currency bought for real money and years of progress, so such accounts are increasingly becoming a target for cybercriminals. Ukrainian law enforcement officers have uncovered a group that, according to the investigation, turned the theft of game profiles into the shadow business with a turnover of almost 10 million hryvnias.
The Ukrainian Cyber Policeсообщила on the detention of three residents of the Lviv region at the age of 19, 21 and 22 years. The organizer of the scheme, law enforcement officers consider a 19-year-old resident of Drohobych. He, according to the investigation, he found on thematic game resources in 2025.
The group gained access to someone else's profiles using a malware that stole confidential data from victims' devices. Such software was disguised as tools for game bonuses or simplifying passage. After infection, the attackers could log into the accounts without the knowledge of the owners and check how valuable each profile was.
Of particular interest were accounts with rare items limited to equipment and the residue of virtual currency. According to law enforcement officers, for several months the defendants gained access to more than 610 thousand game profiles. Some of the Ukrainian media with reference to the Office of the Prosecutor General clarifies that it was about Roblox accounts.
The stolen profiles were sold for cryptocurrency in closed online communities. The cyber police found more than 300 records with data on the so-called elite accounts. The preliminary amount of illegal trafficking was estimated at almost 10 million hryvnias.
During 10 searches, police seized 37 mobile phones, 11 system units, 7 laptops, 5 tablets, flash drives, bank cards, draft records, as well as a large amount in cash in dollars and euros. The analysis of the technique is still ongoing.
The detainees were informed about the suspicion of articles on theft and unauthorized interference in the work of information systems. The court sent the defendants into custody. With proven guilt, they face up to 15 years in prison.
