Authorities said, in what was the first case of its kind, the 17-year-old was arrested after playing Habbo Hotel — an international game and online community with an estimated seven million members.<\/p>\n
The game, which has individual communities in 31 countries and an annual turnover of £3-million, allows players to create virtual characters, or Habbos. These characters can take their own rooms in the hotel, which they can then decorate with their own furniture.<\/p>\n
The furniture is purchased with special Habbo credits but the credits are paid for with real money.<\/p>\n
The teenager hacked into the accounts of other Habbo community members, took their furniture and put it in his own room. The 17-year-old has been charged with hacking and burglary.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Sulake, the company that operates Habbo Hotel, said: “The accused lured victims into handing over their Habbo passwords by creating fake Habbo websites. <\/p>\n
“Scamming has been problematic for a while … but this is the first case where the police have taken legal action.”<\/p>\n