Dutch teenager arrested for virtual theft

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...9_habbo203.jpg

A Dutch teenager has been arrested for allegedly stealing virtual furniture from “rooms” in Habbo Hotel, a 3D social networking website.

The 17-year-old is accused of stealing 4,000 euros (£2,840) worth of virtual furniture, bought with real money. Five 15-year-olds have also been questioned by police, who were contacted by the website’s owners. The six teenagers are suspected of moving the stolen furniture into their own Habbo rooms. A spokesman for Sulake, the company that operates Habbo Hotel, said: “The accused lured victims into handing over their Habbo passwords by creating fake Habbo websites. “In Habbo, as in many other virtual worlds, scamming for other people’s personal information such as user names has been problematic for quite a while. Habbo users can create their own characters, decorate their own rooms and play a number of games, paying with Habbo Credits, which they have to buy with real cash.

“It is a theft because the furniture is paid for with real money. But the only way to be a thief in Habbo is to get people’s usernames and passwords and then log in and take the furniture. “We got involved because of an increasing number of sites which are pretending to be Habbo. People might then try and log in and get their details stolen.” Six million people in more than 30 countries play Habbo Hotel each month. Virtual theft is a growing issue in virtual worlds; in 2005 a Chinese gamer was stabbed to death in a row over a sword in a game. One would think that these games are quite innocent…

:source: Source: BBC

Anyone who would hand over real money for virtual furniture deserves everything they get, or lose.

If it is virtual furniture, did it ever actually exist? And if it didn't exist how could it be stolen?

If it is deemed to exist, the web site owners have been in possession of the furniture at all times, there's no way of removing it from the site. So how can there be a theft?

IMO there's only one set of scammers operating here, and they aren't 15yo Dutch kids.

They should go to a virtual prison for their virtual crimes. :ermm:

lol one day there won't be no shops other than virtual shops that's crazy...
this kid shouldn't be punished they takin' virtual space too seriously...

Kids created a fake Habbo website just so they could steal virtual furniture for some crappy game....wow, get a life!

lmao :lol:

thats crazy feed the poor you virtual furniture buying f*c*e*rs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lynx

If it is deemed to exist, the web site owners have been in possession of the furniture at all times, there's no way of removing it from the site. So how can there be a theft?

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This is my sentiments exactly... Isn't there a virtual Lost & Found?

lol. Seriously, the next generation is going to be fux. Stealing virtual worlds furniture....wtf spends money on buying virtual furniture
:blink:

wow...none of these people in this story have a life

A good Yankee lawyer would have a field day with the virtual charges .

Haha I think arrested for virtual theft is the wrong description. It should be theft of online accounts.

LMAO OMG, this is really scary...really.