Cyber Theft Strikes Latvian Livestreamer
A Latvian livestreamer known as Raivo “Rastaland” Plavnieks saw his hopes for treatment funding dashed when he became a victim of a cyber theft, losing over $31,000 in cryptocurrency meant to support his battle against stage 4 cancer. The incident occurred after Plavnieks downloaded a malicious game called Block Blasters from the widely used gaming platform Steam, at the suggestion of a viewer. This malicious software wiped out the considerable funds he had amassed through a Solana-based token he launched, titled Help Me Beat Cancer (CANCER), designed to cover his medical expenses.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The crisis unfolded on a Sunday, while Plavnieks was streaming his gameplay to an audience that had generously contributed to his medical needs. His heartfelt plea on social media revealed the depth of his despair:
“I can’t breathe, I can’t think… I feel like I might end up on the street again,”
he expressed on X (formerly Twitter), clearly shaken by the sudden and devastating loss.
At just 26 years old, Plavnieks’ life took a harrowing turn in December when he discovered a painful lump on his back. Subsequent medical evaluations confirmed he had a rare form of aggressive cancer, pushing him into intensive chemotherapy while also relying on public crowdfunding via GoFundMe to supplement his treatment.
Community Support and Investigation
Following the hack, members from the cryptocurrency community, alongside other online security experts, banded together to support Plavnieks. Remarkably, the interest in his CANCER token surged by an astounding 3,000%, propelling its market cap to $2.5 million and subsequently generating more requisite funds for his care. Additionally, seasoned crypto investigator ZachXBT and fellow researchers took it upon themselves to investigate the origins of the hack and its perpetrators.
ZachXBT revealed that the Block Blasters game was not just an isolated incident; it has reportedly contributed to the theft of over $150,000 in cryptocurrency across various individuals. Malware expert vx-underground disclosed that close to 907 devices fell victim to the game’s harmful effects, although he estimates the genuine number of victims to be around 400, discounting any duplicates.
Within the security research community, there is a concerted effort to track the hackers down. A researcher who goes by the name 1989 stated,
“we can set aside differences and use our skills for the greater good”
in light of the severity of such wrongdoing against vulnerable members of society. They are currently in communication with the alleged attackers, attempting to persuade them to return not only Plavnieks’ funds but also what was taken from other victims. Despite this, initial interactions with the malicious actors have been discouraging, as they exhibit a lack of empathy, suggesting that the victims will eventually reclaim their losses.
Precautionary Measures and Community Response
In the wake of the incident, Plavnieks has taken precautionary measures to protect himself, including reporting the crime to the authorities and changing the wallet linked to the donation rewards. Notably, crypto influencer Alex Becker stepped up with a donation of $32,500 to replenish Plavnieks’ lost funds, while many others in the community reached out with offers of assistance.
Expressing immense gratitude on social media, Plavnieks promised his supporters he would return to his stream shortly.
“Thank you all from the bottom of my heart… My family and I are left without words on all the support we have received over the past 24 hours after the hack,”
he shared with his followers. His resilience and the response from the crypto community has highlighted both the challenges he faces and the solidarity among supporters fighting for justice and recovery.
