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The 'Fortnite' Economy Now Has Its Own Black Market (qz.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

Fortnite's in-game currency, V-bucks, are now being used to launder money from stolen credit cards, according to a report by The Independent and cybersecurity firm Sixgill. From a report: Here's how it works: After a hacker obtains someone else's credit card information, they make a Fortnite account and use the card to buy V-bucks which are used in the game to purchase cosmetic upgrades and new ways your character can dance. Once the account is loaded up with V-bucks, it is then sold through a legitimate vendor like eBay, or on the dark web. V-bucks cost about $10 for 1,000 when you buy them in the game or from authorized online stores. But these accounts are sold at rates low enough that it ends up being much cheaper to buy V-bucks that way.

13 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. That's new? by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Been the staple of a couple MMOs already for years. Or is it a story because Fortnite?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:That's new? by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      Exactly.

      Popular game with MTX has black market. News at 10, Film at 11.

      Go figure.

    2. Re:That's new? by nospam007 · · Score: 2

      "Been the staple of a couple MMOs already for years. Or is it a story because Fortnite?"

      But there you got guns, spaceships or armor.
      Here you can buy a dance variant for your avatar.(sic)

    3. Re:That's new? by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

      If I went back 20 years and told people that there will be a game where you can spend real, hard earned cash so your figure on the screen dances in a different way, and that the game makes millions, people would probably take it as a cue that I cannot really travel through time and are just making completely and utterly nonsensical bullshit up.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:That's new? by sheramil · · Score: 1

      A new dance might have come in handy if CCP had ever implemented "Walking in Station / Incarna", in Eve:Online. A player could set their avatar up on a stage in a bar and do exotic dancing for spare change.

    5. Re:That's new? by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      I did that the last time, to which they responded "Who was he running against, Cthulhu?"

      I pondered. Then I nodded.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    6. Re:That's new? by The+Evil+Atheist · · Score: 1

      That's how news works. Fortnite is new. And something old is being done with the new thing. That new combination makes it new.

      Maybe you, like every other Slashdotter it seems, are confusing "new" with "never happened before" or "not conceivable before".

      --
      Those who do not learn from commit history are doomed to regress it.
    7. Re:That's new? by Texmaize · · Score: 1

      You are absolutely right, but each generation always thinks they invited everything for the first time. "NO ONE HAS FELT LOVE LIKE I DO NOW" sorta thing. It's like the changes of the seasons. I take some comfort in it.

      --
      "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
    8. Re:That's new? by Ranbot · · Score: 1

      Been the staple of a couple MMOs already for years. Or is it a story because Fortnite?

      Agreed, but to expand on that... it becomes news [again] because Fortnite is so much larger than previous MMOs and is part of mainstream culture in a way that previous MMOs never were. For millions of average adults Fortnite is a new concept they are trying to wrap their mind around; and idea that Fortnite can be more than just a harmless game their kids play is news for them [albeit, not "news for nerds"].

  2. Re: Is that better than a white economy by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    The metaphors of:

    * Light = White = Good, and
    * Dark = Black = Evil,

    has been around for literally eons.

    e.g.
    A modern version W.R.T. Security:

    * White Hat = good
    * Black Hat = bad

  3. What's Fortnite? by mfearby · · Score: 1

    I suppose I should see what all the fuss is about.

  4. Nothing new Lineage II by future+assassin · · Score: 1

    had a massive black market with Chinese farmers and people accounts getting hacked and items distributed by being sold on ebay and game sites.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
  5. Re:Thats not money laundry by negan16 · · Score: 1

    But how to explain such a cardboard? Fortnite is the most popular video game of all time. https://www.ucbrowser.vip/ https://shareit.onl/ https://mxplayer.pro/