FBI Arrests Student for Creating Fake Games Packed with Malware

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Zyaire Wilkins, a 21-year-old college student from Florida, for allegedly developing and distributing fake video games embedded with malware. These fraudulent games, released on platforms like Steam, were designed to compromise users' computers and steal digital assets.

According to an FBI report cited by Techcrunch on July 22, 2026, Wilkins and his accomplices are accused of using malware to infect around 8,000 devices and successfully hack into 80 cryptocurrency wallets, resulting in the theft of approximately $220,000.

The FBI's investigation into the matter commenced in March after receiving reports from multiple victims on the Steam platform who claimed their systems had been compromised by malware. In response, Steam has taken action by removing several of the fake games containing the malicious files.

Wilkins reportedly designed the games to appear legitimate, allowing users to install and play them. The perpetrators also advertised these fake games on various social media and professional platforms, including Discord, LinkedIn, and Telegram, to attract potential victims. This case highlights significant security vulnerabilities within the review processes of independent game publishing platforms.

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By using malware, Wilkins and his associate infected about 8,000 devices. Then they hacked 80 cryptocurrency wallets worth US$220,000.