The fundamental problem is summarized in the report:

2007 was the year of online gaming fraud - with malicious programs that specifically target online games and virtual worlds increasing by 145% and the emergence of over 30,000 new programs aimed at stealing online game passwords. Such malware is invariably aimed at the theft of virtual property accumulated in a user's account and its sale for real money. With 217 million regular users of MMO/VWs (Massively Multiplayer Online Games and Virtual Worlds) and real-money sales of virtual objects estimated at nearly US$ 2 billion worldwide at the end of 2007, this is a serious issue. The failure to recognise the importance of protecting the real-money value locked up in this grey-zone of the economy is leading to an exponential increase in attacks targeting online MMO/VWs.

The report goes on to list over a dozen recommendations which collectively show just how new an area this. Some of the recommendations focus on establishing standard rules of conduct with regards to malicious practices like item-duping and denial of service attacks. Others address the need for remediation forums.

Things we take for granted in the real world, like laws and civil remedies, do not yet exist or do so only inadequately with respect to virtual worlds.