Runescape robber charged with grand larceny

A Massachusetts teen may face up to 15 years of prison time for stealing Runescape currency.

The NY Post reports the 19 year old had arranged to buy close to 5 billion coins worth around $3,300 from a gold farmer, but turned up with counterfeit cash.

When the collecting party demurred, the teen pulled a fake gun and coerced the collector to call their partner and arrange to transfer the virtual currency.

The exchange was caught on security camera, and the teen has been hit with multiple charges including second-degree robbery and grand larceny. His bail was set at $20,000, and he could serve up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

Jagex frowns on trading virtual currency for real world cash but there's no word of the gold farmer facing consequences. Runescape is a free-to-play, browser-based MMORPG which is about a million years old and remains ridiculously popular.

Thanks, Massively.