17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual "Furniture"
If you've never heard of Habbo Hotel, consider yourself non-European. 'Habbo' is a simplistic, 2-D Second Life that is incredibly popular over across the pond. The teen-focused social-networking site has about 7.5 million unique visitors worldwide, but hasn't quite caught on in the Americas to the same extent.
In 'Habbo,' users create their own customized Habbo avatars that wander around a cartoonish virtual world. Members can buy virtual items and use them to decorate and personalize their Habbo pads and Habbo personas. Some users, though, have turned to stealing, such as the 17-year-old Dutch Habbo user who was recently arrested for the theft of $5,800 worth of furniture and other miscellany.
The teen didn't digitally sneak into other users' pads dressed in black pixels and walk off with their stuff. Instead, he stole usernames and passwords, logged into accounts, then moved the furniture to his real account. Those passwords were often stolen through phishing and imposter Web sites, which were used to trick those unsuspecting Habboites into logging in.
As virtual communities such as Habbo become more popular, and thus more valuable, the virtual property created and bought on these commmunities also becomes more valuable -- and more frequently stolen. In August, for example, we wrote about a lawsuit against people accused of duplicating copyrighted genitalia in Second Life. This case, though, is just another reminder to watch where you enter your password, and, of course, to make sure that password is secure in the first place.
If you're confused by what we mean when we say "virtual furniture," check out the gallery to see the cool digs you can pick up in Habbo Hotel.
Gallery: Habbo Hotel Furniture
From Read/WriteWeb
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Matt @ Nov 15th 2007 1:15PM
It is amazing to me that people with no 'first life', go online an live a "second life'.
Bill @ Nov 15th 2007 4:13PM
What's wrong with you people? I can't believe so many think that it's a crime to steal furniture in a stupid game. It's VIRTUAL. It's a frickin video game. WOW we live in a world full of morons.
Bill @ Nov 15th 2007 4:15PM
lol Matt! I agree, but that second life can be a whole lot of fun! but getting arrested for stealing virtual furniture? It's like getting arrested for activating infinity lives in some game.
Jan @ Nov 15th 2007 5:26PM
Its not the furniture ( unless they have to buy the moneyto buy the furniture)as much as stealing the passwords
Joe @ Nov 15th 2007 5:40PM
He stole virtual furniture that was paid for with real cash. He stole money from those people and deserves to end up in a real jail.
Ron @ Nov 15th 2007 5:56PM
His crime was not stealing furniture since virtual funiture is nothing more than pixels, His crime is actually theft of money or property. If you think of it as he took items that others have purchased, then he committed a crime. Stealing someone else's password of identity is also a crime. It isn't the furniture, it is the money other paid for it and the security of their online identity.
Dara @ Nov 15th 2007 6:02PM
Yeah, I used to go on Habbo a while ago. All of the virtual furniture is paid for with credit cards. This guy stole the furniture by hacking into other people's accounts...and got busted.
LJ @ Nov 15th 2007 6:14PM
Bill, Habbo is virtual game yes but you must pay for the coins in which you buy the furniture. People use real money for the game. So it is literally stealing people's money.
russ @ Nov 15th 2007 6:27PM
A couple of years ago a record producer was sued over 30 seconds of silence titled "Homage to John Cale" on a C.D. because there was a Cale album with a titled segment of silence. The producer was found NOT GUILTY because, as he pointed out, HIS silence was digital, while the Cale silence was analog. Justice prevails.
Carol @ Nov 15th 2007 6:28PM
My kid plays on Habbo a lot. She has fun there with her friends. There are people who have stolen her furniture and her Habbo coins that were used to buy the furniture. I used my debit card to buy the Habbo coins for her. She is very sad that people are thieves and steal from people online especially in a place where most of them are kids just trying to have fun. There are also kids who gang up on each other to steal and other mean things. I hope she learns the lesson that just because it is a virtual world that it does mimmick real life. I think the hacker should go to jail. Virtual or not stealing is a crime.
kdm98 @ Nov 15th 2007 6:31PM
The people who sell people virtual furniture should go to jail. Man...I thought we all read that Emporer has no clothes book when we were kids. After thinking about it, we probably should put the people who buy virtual furniture in jail and the ones who sell in the Capitalist's Hall of Fame. Can you imagine spending your evenings organizing a home that isn't real? I mean, get a toy train and build a city or something. At least you can sit and watch it go around and around.
Keke @ Nov 15th 2007 6:34PM
if thats the case then there should be A LOT of people in jail. i go on habbo and lots of people ask for passwords to give them credz when they are actually taking furni. also they ask for one furni so they can "duplicate" it meanwhile its impossible.also habbo has warned its users to not enter their password ANYWHERE ELSE unless they directly go to habbo.com so part of it is the fault of the users
Kat @ Nov 15th 2007 6:39PM
Matt says:
It is amazing to me that people with no 'first life', go online an live a "second life'.
11/15/07 1:15 PM
AMEN! This has got to be one of the most pathetic stories I've ever read.
James @ Nov 15th 2007 6:48PM
I assume that those of you who see nothing wrong with stealing "virtual furnitue" are the same ones that see nothing wrong with downloading songs illegally or paying to see one movie and going in every movie. This is the problem our young people face today, no morals, no values and no sense of right and wrong. Lets teach our children to try and always do the right thing, it will be a much better world and in the end, they will be happier.
Widowmakyr4 @ Nov 15th 2007 6:52PM
Firstly hacking IS A CRIME, BUT.....
Its the users who are SUPPOSED to protect their own
passwords, so ANYONE who shares them is just asking
to be victemized.
minette @ Nov 15th 2007 7:03PM
Why would anyone pay real money to buy virtual furniture anyway? But if he stole it, and phished and stole passwords then it is a crime regardless of whether we Americans understand the attraction or not.
Courtney @ Nov 15th 2007 7:04PM
NO IT IS A CRIME. My son plays that game and he would earn extra cash to buy points and someone stole his stuff on the game. IF PEOPLE PAY MONEY FOR SOMETHING AND SOMEONE TAKES IT, THATS STEALING. DUH
Minette Sweeney @ Nov 15th 2007 7:05PM
James says:
This is the problem our young people face today, no morals, no values and no sense of right and wrong.
_______________________
James I agree absolutely but you can't blame the children for what they haven't been taught by the parents.
Bountyhunter1714 @ Nov 15th 2007 7:08PM
wow i think u guys are right it is pretty stupid to get all freaked out about stupid VIRTUAL furniture in a GAME !! and i mean ppl killin ppl for this stuff dang ppl got some issues they need therapy!
doc @ Nov 15th 2007 7:16PM
notice they never said what country he was from? or his name? its bullshit, theft of "virtual furniture" is not a crime in ANY jusrisdiction in the world, i checked, you all believed a bullshit story didnt you?