The internet, a platform brimming with both goodwill and malicious intent, recently exposed its darker side. This grim reality hit streamer ‘RastalandTV’ hard. He was courageously raising money for his stage 4 cancer treatment on a crypto streaming service when a viewer offered a donation in exchange for him playing their game live. Trusting the offer, Rastaland downloaded ‘BlockBlasters’ from Steam and began to play. Unbeknownst to him, this seemingly innocent act would lead to the devastating theft of all the funds he had painstakingly raised.
Immediately after Rastaland shared his harrowing experience on social media, Valve promptly removed ‘BlockBlasters’ from its platform. Overwhelmed with despair, Rastaland posted, “I can’t breathe, I can’t think, I’m completely lost on what is going to happen next, can’t shake the feeling that it is my fault.”
It’s believed that ‘BlockBlasters’ contained malware, though its exact nature is still under investigation. Typically, such scams involve keyloggers that capture passwords or software granting hackers full control over a PC, often activated when the user is offline. However, many cryptocurrency experts speculate that this particular incident involved a ‘crypto drainer’ tool, specifically designed to empty digital wallets.
RastalandTV, already facing the immense challenge of stage 4 cancer, broke down on stream upon realizing the theft. The game had appeared legitimate, having been published on Steam in June with 114 reviews that granted it a ‘very positive’ rating. However, there are now allegations that these reviews may have been fabricated.
In the hours following the viral spread of Rastaland’s story, numerous prominent figures within the crypto community stepped forward to support him. Notably, Alex Becker, a social media influencer with 1.3 million followers, generously donated the full $32,000 to a new, secure wallet for Rastaland. Many other individuals have also contributed to his cause.
While efforts are underway to identify those behind the scam, the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions means the original funds are unlikely to be recovered through traditional means. This incident underscores the inherent risks in the cryptocurrency space and prompts critical questions about Steam’s content moderation and vetting policies for games on its platform. Further updates will be provided as new information emerges.