A content creator from Latvia, who was raising funds for cancer treatment, has suffered a loss of over $31,000 in cryptocurrency. This occurred after he unknowingly downloaded a piece of malware that was disguised as a game on Steam.
Raivo Plavnieks, known online as “Rastaland”, had initiated the Help Me Beat Cancer (CANCER) project through Pump.fun.
Diagnosed with stage 4 sarcoma, Plavnieks intended to use the collected funds to cover expenses related to his medical care. To engage his audience and support the cause, he incorporated live gaming sessions into his fundraising efforts.
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During one of these streams, a viewer suggested he play Block Blasters, a game purportedly available on Steam. Despite appearing legitimate, the game turned out to be a cleverly disguised form of malware.
In the aftermath, he shared his concerns on X via a post, expressing uncertainty about the future and the possibility of not being able to afford essential needs.
Touched by his plight, online communities involved in cryptocurrency and cybersecurity stepped in to offer assistance. Consequently, the value of the token he created rose significantly, reaching a market capitalization of approximately $2.5 million.
According to cybersecurity expert ZachXBT, the malicious game has resulted in over $150,000 worth of stolen assets. He also directed criticism towards Valve, the parent company of Steam, for allowing the problematic game to be listed on their platform.
While a potential member of the group responsible for the malware was identified, they have denied any involvement.
In a separate message posted on X Plavnieks mentioned that he has updated the wallet used for receiving creator payments, reported the incident to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, and replaced his computer’s SSD to eliminate any remaining threats.
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