The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →CityNews reported that a rare PlayStation Network username bought with some of the cryptocurrency in a major theft was “God.” Investigators reportedly used IP addresses associated with the account to locate the Hamilton, Ontario, suspect. The case began with a reported SIM swap targeting a U.S. victim in February 2020; the suspect later pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 and received one year of probation, according to a June 2022 follow-up.
What was the rare gaming username?
CityNews identified the PlayStation Network username as “God” in its June 2022 account. Hamilton Police had earlier said some of the stolen cryptocurrency was spent on an online username considered rare in the gaming community, without naming it in the November 2021 report.
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. The November 2021 account said the suspect manipulated cellular-network employees and intercepted two-factor authorization requests, gaining access to cryptocurrency held in a wallet on the victim’s phone.
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 explanation describes the basic idea, not every technical step in this case. The reporting does not provide a statement from the victim or suspect.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- HDR technology, 8K output,4K TV gaming, Up to 120 fps with 120Hz output, Tempest 3D AudioTech
- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition; DualSense; USB cable, HDMI cable.
How investigators reportedly traced the username
Santa Clara County Detective Samy Tarazi told CityNews that investigators received a tip about the “God” username. He said they used IP addresses associated with its user to locate the person in Hamilton. 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 account given to CityNews; the articles do not publish technical records independently establishing the tracing details.
Hamilton Police said the investigation involved the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force.
Rank #2
- Model Number CFI-2000
- Includes DualSense Wireless Controller, 1TB SSD, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI Cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)
- Vertical Stand sold seperately
What the reports say about the amount
The figures differ in wording, currency presentation and publication date. They should be treated as separate reported figures, not as one independently reconciled total.
| 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 cryptocurrency theft. |
| CityNews follow-up, June 2022 | More than $45 million; about $45 million in Bitcoin | The follow-up’s description 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 that report. |
| CityNews follow-up, June 2022 | $7 million | The amount CityNews said had been recovered from the reported $45 million as of November 2021. |
The recovery figure is a dated snapshot, not a current total. In June 2022, CityNews said the remaining funds were still under investigation at that time. The reports do not establish a final disposition for all unrecovered funds.
Rank #3
![Playstation SONY 4, 500GB Slim System [CUH-2215AB01], Black, 3003347 (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31aelHds6gL._SL160_.jpg)
- Includes a slim 500GB PlayStation4 system, a matching DualShock 4 Wireless Controller, Power Cord and HDMI Cable.
- Play online with your friends, get free games, save games online and more with PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately).
- All the greatest, games, TV, music and more. Connect with your friends to broadcast and celebrate your epic moments at the press of the Share button to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
What happened in court?
The 2021 report said the suspect had been arrested in 2020 and faced charges of theft over $5,000 and possession of property or proceeds obtained by crime; the matter was 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.
That reported plea and sentence do not establish an admission to every allegation in the coverage or to a precise $45–46 million amount. The available reports do not name the username seller or state what the username cost.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- "Suspend mode" eliminates the load time on your saved game and allows you to immediately return to where you left off by pressing the power button.
- Enables the greatest game developers in the world to unlock their creativity and push the boundaries of play through a platform that is tuned specifically to their needs.
- Engage in endless personal challenges between you and your community, and share your epic moments for the world to see.
- Gamers can share their epic triumphs by hitting the "SHARE button" on the controller, scan through the last few minutes of gameplay, tag it and return to the game.
Sources
- CityNews Toronto, Pat Taney, “Hamilton Police arrest teen for stealing $46M in Cryptocurrency,” November 17, 2021.
- CityNews Toronto, Pat Taney, “Hamilton teen accused of stealing more than $45M in cryptocurrency pleads guilty,” June 24, 2022 (updated January 26, 2023).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
