Casino Secrets: Bitcoin payment demand raises data privacy concerns

LILITH WITTMANN'S CASINO SECRETS: SOMEBODY WANTED BITCOIN TO DELETE PRIVATE DATA!

Well, this is getting rather ugly now. I have been warning for two weeks about the consequences of Lilith Wittmann publishing sensitive personal information obtained from the hacked Curaçao Gaming Authority systems. Malta Media has now been shown an email apparently sent to a gambling operator back in September, offering to delete information from the Curaçao files in exchange for a Bitcoin “donation”. The originating email address was lilithwittmann@proton.me. Somebody seems to be trying to make money from private information that should never have been publicly accessible in the first place.

The email carries Lilith Wittmann's name, although we have not established whether she sent it herself (as a hacker with her pedigree would know how to hide her identity!) or whether somebody was simply impersonating her. But somebody apparently thought they could demand money for removing this information, and that is precisely the sort of criminal exploitation I have been warning about. Ms Wittmann was not prepared to provide a statement in response to our right-of-reply request.

We have asked Ms Wittmann four brief questions regarding this matter:

1. Are you aware of this email or similar demands for payment? Have any affected companies or individuals already approached you about such demands?
2. Have you or anyone associated with you sent or authorised such messages? If not, do you have any information suggesting who might be misusing your name for this purpose?
3. Who exactly operates and controls the Casino Secrets websites, and who has the technical ability to remove individual documents or personal information from these websites?
4. Before publishing the Curaçao documents, did you assess the extent to which the personal data contained in them could be misused for extortion, identity theft or other criminal activities?

Who could actually delete those records? Whoever sent that message either has access to the website, knows somebody who does or is simply bluffing. I cannot find a clear legal imprint identifying who operates the Casino Secrets database, although the website links directly to Ms Wittmann, who also requests donations through her own channels via Stripe and Patreon. I think it would be rather interesting to hear from Ms Wittmann who controls these websites and who has the technical ability to remove individual documents. Surely that is not an unreasonable question.

And the German police are already investigating. Following our criminal complaint on 6 October 2026, the Polizei Berlin registered the matter under reference 261006-1329-i00337. On 8 October, the Landeskriminalamt Berlin (LKA 724 ZAC) separately confirmed that an official investigation had been initiated under reference 261008-1252-168724. The LKA also confirmed that its investigation file would be forwarded to the Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin. These are two official police references concerning the same affair.

And we have not simply left everything to the police. On 6 October, Malta Media submitted a separate written complaint directly to the Staatsanwaltschaft Berlin, alongside an independent submission to the Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Berlin. We are still awaiting confirmation of the prosecutorial assessment and any separate case reference. This has now moved considerably beyond another LinkedIn argument about what Ms Wittmann considers acceptable investigative journalism.

We also intend to file a separate criminal complaint (Strafanzeige) concerning suspected attempted extortion involving the Bitcoin payment demand in exchange for removing published personal information. The sender's identity remains unverified at this time.

But I believe the wider consequences of publishing people's passports, residential addresses and other private information deserve considerably more attention than they have received so far. Perhaps it really is time somebody started investigating the investigators.

The consequences of exposing people's private information extend considerably further than identity theft, extortion or financial fraud. We have also spoken to a corporate service provider who informed us that gambling operators have received threats of physical harm. While we have not independently verified these reports or established who was responsible for the threats, I find them particularly alarming, given that private residential addresses are now publicly accessible.

And I seriously wonder whether those responsible for publishing these documents have given any meaningful consideration to what could happen when this information ends up in the wrong hands.

We are looking for other operators, directors and private individuals who may have received similar emails, threats or demands for payment. The messages we are talking about date back to September, and we want to establish whether these are isolated incidents or part of something considerably larger. If you have been approached about paying to have your information removed from Casino Secrets or related websites, or have been threatened, please contact us confidentially at ms@malta-media.com.

We would particularly appreciate original emails, including their full headers and any further correspondence relating to such threats or financial demands.

FAQs

What is the Casino Secrets controversy about?
The controversy concerns the publication of sensitive personal information reportedly obtained from compromised Curaçao Gaming Authority systems and concerns about how that information could be misused.

What Bitcoin payment demand was reported in connection with Casino Secrets?
Malta Media reports receiving evidence of an email allegedly offering to remove published personal information in exchange for a Bitcoin payment. The sender's identity has not been verified.

Was Lilith Wittmann responsible for sending the Bitcoin payment email?
There is no verified evidence establishing that Lilith Wittmann sent or authorised the email. The possibility that someone impersonated her remains unresolved.

What personal information was reportedly exposed?
The information reportedly includes passport details, residential addresses and other sensitive records concerning gambling operators, directors and private individuals.

Are German authorities investigating the Casino Secrets matter?
Malta Media reports that Berlin police registered a complaint on 6 October 2026 and that the Landeskriminalamt Berlin confirmed an investigation on 8 October 2026. These procedural details have not been independently verified.

Has a criminal complaint been filed concerning the Bitcoin payment demand?
Malta Media has stated its intention to file a separate criminal complaint concerning suspected attempted extortion. The article does not confirm that this additional complaint has already been submitted.

Who operates and controls the Casino Secrets websites?
The identity of the individuals or organisations with operational control over the websites and the ability to remove specific documents has not been conclusively established.

What risks arise from publishing private information online?
Exposed personal information can potentially be misused for identity theft, impersonation, financial fraud, harassment, extortion and threats to personal safety.

Have gambling operators received threats following the publication of personal data?
Malta Media reports being informed by a corporate service provider that some gambling operators received threats of physical harm. Those reports have not been independently verified and responsibility has not been established.

How can affected operators or individuals report suspicious payment demands?
Affected individuals can contact Malta Media confidentially at ms@malta-media.com and provide original messages, full email headers and related correspondence. Suspected criminal threats can also be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.