CityNews identified the rare gaming username as “God,” a PlayStation Network name that investigators said was purchased with some of the cryptocurrency stolen in a reported SIM-swap attack. The suspect was arrested in 2020; CityNews later reported that he pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 and received one year of probation.
What was the rare gaming username?
The username was “God” on PlayStation Network. Hamilton Police said some of the cryptocurrency in the case was spent on an online username considered rare in the gaming community. CityNews identified the name in its June 2022 follow-up. The reports do not name the seller or say how much the username cost.
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Sources: CityNews, November 17, 2021; CityNews, June 24, 2022, updated January 26, 2023.
How did the reported theft happen?
Hamilton Police began investigating in March 2020 after a U.S. victim’s phone and cryptocurrency wallet were reportedly compromised the previous month. According to the November 2021 police account reported by CityNews, the suspect manipulated cellular network employees and intercepted two-factor authorization requests, enabling access to cryptocurrency stored in a wallet on the victim’s phone.
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Ryk Edelstein, founder, president and CEO of 5-L Technologies, described a SIM swap to CityNews as “basically moving the subscriber account to a different device.” That is his brief explanation of the method, not a complete technical definition.
How did investigators connect the username to Hamilton?
Santa Clara County Detective Samy Tarazi told CityNews that investigators received a tip about the PlayStation username, then used IP addresses associated with its user to locate the person in Hamilton, Ontario. Tarazi explained: “Because PlayStation connects to the internet, investigators were able to track IP addresses to get a physical location of the person who was using the username.” This is the investigative account reported by CityNews; the articles do not provide independent technical records of the tracing.
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Hamilton Police said the investigation involved the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force.
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The figures differ by report and should not be treated as one reconciled exact total:
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| Report | Reported figure | What it refers to |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Police account reported by CityNews, November 2021 | C$46 million | The arrest story’s headline figure for the reported theft. |
| CityNews follow-up, June 2022 | More than $45 million in cryptocurrency; about $45 million in Bitcoin | The follow-up’s descriptions of the victim’s reported loss. |
| Hamilton Police account reported by CityNews, November 2021 | More than C$7 million | Cryptocurrency seizures, valued at the time of reporting. |
| CityNews follow-up, June 2022 | $7 million | The amount CityNews said had been recovered as of November 2021 from the reported $45 million. |
The $7 million recovery figure is a dated snapshot, not a current recovery total. The June 2022 article said the remaining funds were still under investigation at that time; it does not establish a final disposition for them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was the legal outcome?
The suspect was arrested in 2020. In its November 2021 account, CityNews reported that he faced charges of theft over $5,000 and possession of property or proceeds obtained by crime, with the matter then before the courts. In June 2022, CityNews reported that the suspect, then 19, pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 and received one year of probation, with no further jail time.
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That reported plea was to theft over $5,000. The coverage does not establish that it admitted every reported allegation or a precise $45–46 million amount.
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