Virtual world thief arrested in real life

Someone who obtained details of other people’s accounts to access a web-based role play game to steal their virtual world possessions has been arrested on suspicion of computer misuse offences. The Central Police e-Crime Unit arrested the man and gave him a caution after discovering that people’s possessions and virtual characters in the RuneScape game had been stolen. The man is believed to have obtained password and other account details through a phishing scam. Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable businesses in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, online. Possessions in games worlds can be bought and sold for real money.

This was believed to be the first case in Britain of someone being arrested for committing a crime during an online game.  However, in 2008, a Dutch court convicted teenage boys of assaulting another RuneScape participant when they threatened him with a knife to force him to han over an amulet and mask in the game. The Dutch court had ruled that a theft had taken place.