A New Video Game Traps Players in an Online Scam Center
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- "Blood Money: Lethal Eden," a new video game by a Chinese developer, immerses players in the experience of individuals forced to work as online scammers in a high-security compound.
- The game’s release has sparked discussions in China amid widespread concerns about scams and human trafficking, themes also explored in recent Chinese films.
- The fictional compound in the game resembles Chinese-run scam facilities in Myanmar, with characters speaking Chinese and Burmese text featured in the trailer.
- Scam compounds in Southeast Asia have been linked to large-scale international fraud, with the U.S. Treasury estimating over $16.6 billion lost by Americans alone.
- Authorities in multiple countries, including China, the U.S., the U.K., and South Korea
