The line comes from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, released by Bethesda in 2006, where Imperial guards confront the player after any crime. Their famous warning, including the phrase criminal scum, became a running joke because guards seemed to detect theft instantly from far away. Clips and remixes spread through early YouTube and gaming forums, turning the guard into a symbol of overzealous enforcement. It remains popular because the shout instantly explains the joke, even for viewers who never played Oblivion.