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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.

4 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 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)

    2. 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.
    3. 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.