Fortnite maker Epic Games is suing a player accused of stealing and selling countless user accounts, and profiting further by flogging details of his tactics to other wannabe thieves.
Epic is seeking unspecified damages from Illinois Fortnite fan Isaac “i5aac” Strock for fraud, copyright infringement and unjust enrichment.
Strock is named in a legal filing dated 27th February, which Epic Games has also publicised via a recent blog post – its latest move to name and shame those who target Fortnite with unscrupulous practices.
“Strock is in the business of stealing access to other players’ Epic Games accounts,” Epic Games wrote in its court filing.
“He uses illicit means to discover the players’ usernames and passwords and in some cases even the login credentials for the players’ email address associated with the players’ Epic Games account. He then sells access to these accounts to the highest bidders.”
Epic Games estimates Strock has sold “hundreds” of player accounts and says he has boasted online about reaping “thousands of dollars in profits”.
Strock is said to have even offered a guide on how to cheat Epic Games’ player support and steal more accounts – again, for a price.
Epic Games detected Strock on multiple occasions trying to bamboozle its player support with requests to change log-in details and gain access to accounts with valuable cosmetics or that had already been pre-loaded with Fortnite in-game currency.
Strock also used email and password combinations acquired in data breaches via the dark web to further add to his stolen account haul, the legal filing states.
The online trade in Fortnite accounts is lucrative, and accounts with rare skins are highly prized. Epic Games notes that some individual accounts sell for over $1000 each.
“Strock’s actions harm Epic and the Fortnite community,” the company concluded. “Epic has spent substantial resources investigating and working to prevent Strock’s conduct. Strock’s conduct also directly harms Fortnite players who no longer have access to the accounts they spent time and money on.
“Epic is entitled to all remedies available at law or equity, including injunctive relief, compensatory damages and/or other equitable or monetary remedies.”
Last month, Epic Games announced its victory against a Fortnite competitive cheater who had tried to sneak their way into the game’s biggest tournament. Epic took back the player’s winnings, forced them to post humiliating public apology video and then donated the prize money to charity.