A large-scale scheme to steal gaming accounts that affected hundreds of thousands of gamers

Law enforcement uncovered a large-scale scheme for stealing gaming accounts that affected hundreds of thousands of users. In the Lviv Oblast, cyberpolice together with investigators and prosecutors detained three young men aged 19, 21 and 22 years old who organized the criminal activity. According to the investigation, back in 2025 a 19-year-old resident of Drohobych developed a plan to hack the accounts of players of a popular online game, whom he had met on themed resources.

The perpetrators used social engineering methods and malicious software — the so-called “stealers” — which were disguised as programs offering in-game bonuses. This way they gained access to more than 610 thousand accounts of Ukrainian and foreign users. The accounts were then sold for cryptocurrency through closed online communities and a website with a domain registered in the RF. The most expensive profiles were those with rare items purchased for real money and with remaining in-game currency.

During 10 searches, law enforcement seized 32 thousand dollars, 2 thousand euros, 37 mobile phones, 11 desktop PCs, 7 laptops, 5 tablets, bank cards and data carriers. More than 300 records with data of so-called “elite” accounts were also found. Preliminary estimates place the shadow turnover of this scheme at about 10 million hryvnias.

The suspects have been notified of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 185, Part 5 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They face up to 15 years in prison. The court ordered a preventive measure — pretrial detention. The investigation continues; other participants in the scheme and victims are being identified.

Previously we wrote:

• Clicking the link from an announcement about a social payment on a social network cost a Mykolaiv resident almost 94,000 UAH
• In Mykolaiv, a man lost $6,000 during a cryptocurrency exchange
• Scammers cheated residents of Mykolaiv region out of more than 600 thousand hryvnias
• They promise fuel — they take accounts: a new wave of phishing in messengers
• A resident of Mykolaiv region lost 104 thousand hryvnias after seeking help: beware, scammers!