Activision catches both pirates and thieves in Modern Warfare 2 investigation
by JC Fletcher 
{ Nov 6th 2009 at 9:00PM } 
When IPCyberCrime found the person behind the sale, the investigator discovered that he was an employee at a retailer, who, with friends, had stolen the bundles to sell on Craigslist. The sellers were turned over to the store's loss prevention department.
That bust led to one of the prospective buyers, named Christian Del Amo, who was raising money on a forum to buy the bundle (allegedly) for the purpose of copying the game and selling the copies, along with other pirated games, on hard drives. IPCyberCrime turned that case over to the Miami-Dade Police Department, who arrested Del Amo.
Obviously, this demonstrates one reason (aside from the whole morality thing) why you shouldn't try to make a business of selling pirated games. Activision has enough money to hire a private investigator, and is not afraid to use it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ostentaneous @ Nov 6th 2009 9:04PM
Good point Joystiq. Pirate for pleasure, not for profit!
Prof. Von Manifest (aka Dallas McCoy of the Cocaine Imperium) [PSN: Manifest37] @ Nov 6th 2009 9:56PM
That's what happens when you skyline yourself mateys...
Headshot!
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:06PM
Activision did something I can agree with?
IT'S A FESTIVUS MIRACLE!
Hydrophobicfish (PSN: HydrophobicFish) @ Nov 6th 2009 9:12PM
It burns us...
Anemos @ Nov 6th 2009 10:13PM
So this is where all their extra production money for MW2 went...
DBuck_Eye @ Nov 6th 2009 10:23PM
As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.
Jack_Jackington @ Nov 6th 2009 11:56PM
Let's start with the airing of grievances
Filthy Assistant @ Nov 7th 2009 1:19AM
Guitar Hero no, Festivus yes!
Silencio @ Nov 7th 2009 5:31AM
Fuck Activision. This is what happens when you raise the prices so high that your disk becomes a precious commodity.
Free Del Amo!
Amirite?
sonicspike41 @ Nov 6th 2009 9:07PM
That last line made me think:
I think Activision is a pretty cool guy. eh hires investigators and doesn't afraid of anything
Bluebreaker @ Nov 6th 2009 9:08PM
Is it just me or is Craigslist becoming like The Source of all Evil lately?
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 6th 2009 9:17PM
Prostitutes... check.
Slaves... check.
Selling you kids... check.
Thievery... check.
Hmmm, maybe there's something wrong with the world instead.
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 6th 2009 9:19PM
your*
.... check.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:20PM
Does it have spell check?
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 6th 2009 9:23PM
More like grammar check, but I can see what you were trying at.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:25PM
Yeah, it wasn't that funny.
Azerael @ Nov 6th 2009 10:26PM
@ Steve,
Prostitutes are about as evil as postmen. They provide a service, and people exchange money for the service. Only a bible-beater would compare something like that to slavery and theivery.
Morisato @ Nov 6th 2009 10:56PM
It looks like we have a ranch regular
Filter @ Nov 6th 2009 11:39PM
@Azerael
Not to get into a moral debate arguing over prostitution but....
If the women were deciding to get into it on their own and did it because they wanted to/needed the money or w/e then fine. But i would guess that a good % of the women on CL are being pimped. Which may make for an exciting GTA mini-game, but not so cool IRL.
Shattercross @ Nov 7th 2009 11:34AM
Have you been to 4chan?
Chris @ Nov 6th 2009 9:09PM
People are dumb.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:10PM
No, People are People.
What is this I don't even...? @ Nov 6th 2009 9:40PM
No, soylent green is people.
Spallit @ Nov 6th 2009 10:31PM
Thanks for the chuckle :P
DiamondXP @ Nov 7th 2009 1:51PM
No, Soylent Green is a Movie
Brad4815 @ Nov 6th 2009 9:11PM
I hope to see this become a Law and Order episode sometime soon.
johnslashrob @ Nov 7th 2009 2:03AM
As soon as I saw "Miami-Dade," I expected to see Horatio Caine whip out his sunglasses, give a terrible one liner about pirating, and hear an incredibly loud yell fill the air.
Monica Dickey @ Nov 7th 2009 3:15AM
RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES
I'd watch it if only to see them cast some shifty eyed guy as the console stealer
Electro Poof [Super Nintendo IT ONLY DOES EVERYTHING - Now Only $29.99] @ Nov 6th 2009 9:12PM
My neighbor just got like 10 copies of Modern Warfare 2, brand new. He is gonna sell me a copy later today, but after reading this, fuck that! I'm not buying it, I don't wanna go to jail. I rather wait until Nov 10.
DeepFriedSushi @ Nov 6th 2009 10:10PM
you're fine if anything they'd arrest him not you.
Mike @ Nov 9th 2009 11:19AM
Receiving stolen goods is a crime, too, you know. I'd steer clear of that. Save up your money and buy it legitimately.
Evi1d33d @ Nov 6th 2009 9:12PM
I actually saw the guy's post on a forum. Basically he asked for donations for buying the bundle so I guess that's why the police is charging him for it.
RKN @ Nov 6th 2009 9:15PM
Funny how its just days after from the release and the 360 version has been leaked for a few days and not the PC version. HUH ACTIVISION!?!?!?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:15PM
That's because no one in their right mind would want the PC version...
RKN @ Nov 6th 2009 9:17PM
Multiplayer, hell the fuck no, but I'm sure at least the campaign is "worth pirating".
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 6th 2009 9:18PM
I would like to see anyone try to activate it online with steam before the release date. Either it won't work, or it will, and there will be a big sign over their head.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:19PM
I want to play the campaign...and my little brother is in love with any CoD multiplayer. But I don't really want to buy it new. I think I'll wait until I can get a copy from my local shop instead.
Einhanderkiller @ Nov 6th 2009 9:26PM
Yeah, Steam protection makes it impossible for crackers to crack the game before release date. The game doesn't ship with a few essential files. When you install the game on your computer, Steam will download those essential files which are only a couple megabytes but are necessary for the game to run.
RKN @ Nov 6th 2009 9:33PM
Quite interesting, I didn't know about this, I never use Steam, I like my PC games in retail, physical copy form. Its a nice way of combating piracy but still stinks if I buy a game and my internet may be down for the day. Whereas on a console, pop in the disc and play.
Are we finally getting to DRM that is effective against pirates but also not fucking over paying customers?
Sly @ Nov 6th 2009 9:42PM
"Are we finally getting to DRM that is effective against pirates but also not fucking over paying customers?"
we already got to it when steam came out. 6 years ago.
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 6th 2009 9:45PM
Yeah, why do you think Steam is so effective? My guess is the PC industry will move to downloadable titles only- which could kill it, or make it a huge success.
What is this I don't even...? @ Nov 6th 2009 9:45PM
Steam DOES have an offline mode and (as long as it was already downloaded) you can play your games.
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 6th 2009 9:46PM
@What is this I don't even...?
It has an offline mode, after you register your game online.
Lurkero @ Nov 6th 2009 9:19PM
It's unfortunate that other publishers lack the ability to investigate piracy on this level.
What the heck is the ESA doing these days? They do a good job collecting member fees, but rarely do I hear about accomplishments
Lurkero @ Nov 6th 2009 9:20PM
After I wrote that I realized that Activision actually left the ESA...I wonder why
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 6th 2009 9:24PM
ESA should make a special anti-pirate task force. It will be called N.I.N.J.A.
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Nov 6th 2009 9:20PM
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6387/piratesofthecaribbeanjab.jpg
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:23PM
Eh, I see your pun and raise you one.
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/uncyclopedia/images/3/30/JarOfDirt1sued.JPG
Special Agent Steve @ Nov 6th 2009 9:25PM
Hmm. I liked Winters better. But you should have replaced all the faces with Bobby Kotick and a Guitar.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 6th 2009 9:27PM
If I could run Photoshop on this netbook, I would have put MW2 in his arms instead. Then it would have been better.