The FBI arrested a 21-year-old Florida man accused of distributing malware through Steam games to steal cryptocurrency from thousands of victims. Zyaire Wilkins and unnamed co-conspirators allegedly infected 8,000 computers and drained at least $220,000 from 80 crypto wallets over two years.
Malware-Laden Steam Games Targeted Crypto Users
Prosecutors say Wilkins uploaded fake titles like BlockBlasters, Dashverse, and PirateFi to Valve’s Steam platform. The games appeared functional but contained malware designed to harvest passwords and siphon funds from victims’ digital wallets.
The group promoted the malicious software on Discord, LinkedIn, and Telegram, according to court documents. Wilkins, who used the alias Sibel.eth online, was taken into custody Tuesday after a federal investigation traced stolen crypto to gift card purchases linked to his address.
FBI Investigation Uncovers Crypto Theft Network
Agents seized Wilkins’ MacBook, phones, and digital wallets during a search of his residence. He invoked his right to remain silent, per the criminal complaint. Authorities previously identified another participant who admitted to helping fund the scheme in exchange for a share of the stolen cryptocurrency.
The FBI had publicly sought victims of the Steam malware scam in March, urging those who downloaded the compromised games to provide evidence. Valve has since removed multiple titles confirmed to contain malware from its platform.
Wilkins’ attorney has not responded to requests for comment. The case remains under investigation, with additional charges possible as authorities review the seized devices.
