Online games such as FarmVille and World of Warcraft are being used by criminals to launder dirty money money, according to New South Wales coppers.

Apparently criminals have discovered that buying and selling virtual items is a growing new way of cleaning dirty money. NSW Police Detective Superintendent Commander Colin Dyson it was a "relatively new" trend provided an "emerging opportunity for criminals".

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, police were looking into how  criminals are exploiting that Internet opportunity. Dyson said criminals were using online virtual worlds to communicate and transfer funds around the world.

So if a dwarf comes up to you and offers to flog you a dodgy hammer, or wants you to go on a bank raid which does not involve magic or a dragon you will know why.

More here.