How a fake Bitcoin transaction is linked to the GTA 6 leak
Bitcoin fraudsters took advantage of the drama surrounding the leak of the popular video game series Grand Theft Auto (GTA). The game is currently under development in its sixth installment by the legendary studio Rockstar, but a bad actor managed to infiltrate their network and steal critical data about the project.
Rockstar games confirmed those hacked via their official Twitter handles classification as an “illegal” breach of their systems. The hacker operates under the name “Teapot” and was able to download “confidential information”, the legendary game studio confirmed, “including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto”.
The hacker took to the GTA Forums to share over 90 clips of the upcoming title and threatened to release more information, including GTA 5’s source code. The hacker posted a Telegram account, asking Rockstar representatives to contact him or any person willing to purchase the stolen information.
Fraudsters stole Bitcoin in exchange for fake GTA 6 data
The bad actor specifically asked for offers over 5 figures in US dollars. Meanwhile, impersonators offered the data in exchange for Bitcoin. According to a report by YouTuber MrMattyPlays, someone sent 2.2 Bitcoin (BTC) or about $100,000 to buy the data.
However, the Rockstar hacker denied that the money was transferred to his wallet, confirming that people were being scammed by these impersonators. Bitcoin explorer mempool.space shows that the address Bc1q5ctpkgan2npcwwsq9esvuq2fzne3m6qd8he7c5, associated with the scams, currently has around $96,690 from 6 transactions.
As the report claims, Teapot was identified by a group of hackers allegedly as a 16-year-old teenager based in the UK. The hacker was linked to another massive cyber attack against Uber and other companies, and it is currently under investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The alleged hacker had already been charged with illegal online activity in the UK, thus deleting his Telegram channel and other social media accounts. The team behind Rockstar has not commented on the latter or on any investigation, expressing disappointment at the attack but claiming that the game will not be affected:
Our work on the next Grand Theft Auto Games will continue as planned, and we are as committed as anyone to delivering an experience to you, our players, that truly exceeds your expectations.
Will GTA 6 have in-game Bitcoin transactions?
Several reports from gaming outlets have been able to confirm some of the potential features and details of the upcoming GTA 6 series. The game will take place in the fictional “Vice City” where players will reportedly be able to play with the first female protagonist in GTA and interact with the local fauna, drive new vehicles and more.
However, the game is currently at a very early stage of development and everything may be susceptible to change. As Bitcoinist reported in 2021, there were rumors of in-game Bitcoin and crypto transactions taking place in GTA 6.
According to Watcher Guru, the leaked data shows no evidence that the developer plans to include this feature. At the time of writing, BTC’s price is trading at $19,300 with a profit of 2% in the last 24 hours.
