What are gaming scams?
A gaming scam is when a criminal targets video game players to access their personal information, compromise their devices or steal their money. This might be through:
- In-game purchase scams: Criminals use social media, game forums, marketplaces or communities to promote fake offers and get you to make a purchase. They might offer rare items, currency, or power-ups as a hook.
- Phishing emails: Criminals send emails impersonating support staff from official platforms or game publishers. These emails might direct you to fake websites to capture your information or take a payment.
- Account takeover: Criminals gain access to legitimate player accounts through phishing emails, fake website log-ins or weak passwords. They then make purchases, transfers valuable items or try to sell the profile back to you.
- Malware links: Criminals might promise free in-game currency, early access or game hacks but the link they share installs harmful software on your device. This malware could steal saved passwords, credit card details or information from digital and crypto wallets.
How do Gaming Scams work?
Scammers can make their scams sound genuine and convincing by creating fake accounts on social platforms, game forums, marketplaces or communities. They might openly promote their offers or contact you directly. Scammers might also impersonate influencers, support staff or genuine players to gain your trust.
Whether they’re creating fake “trades” to take a payment or linking you to a website that steals your information, criminals are experts at creating fake scenarios to steal your money and information.
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What are the warning signs of a gaming scam?
- An offer sounds too good to be true, such as rare items, currency, power-ups or account access at a very low price.
- You are rushed or pressured to act quickly, make a payment or complete a trade before you have time to check it.
- Someone asks you to pay outside the official game, store, marketplace or platform.
- A player, seller or account you know asks for money or a trade in a way that feels unusual, as their account may have been compromised.
- You are asked to share personal information, financial details, your card PIN, passwords or account login details.
- You are sent a link to claim a reward, download a game, access early content or get free in-game currency.
- A message, email or website claims to be from gaming support, a publisher, an influencer or another player but the details do not look right.
- The website URL, branding, spelling or payment process looks unusual or different from the official platform.
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What if I’m not sure a gaming trade or offer is genuine?
Always take a moment to stop and think before you share your personal information or make a payment. Do your research and check online reviews of similar offers and trades. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Criminals may use official promotions to make their scams seem more convincing. They may pressure you with limited-time deals, repeatedly message you, or rush you into paying. Even if the offer is advertised by official game support, trades from other players may not be legitimate.
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What if the account asking to trade is my friend?
Scammers might impersonate people you know or gain access to their account. Always double check and verify if it is someone you know through other trusted methods of communication. Call or message your friend on a different app to confirm if it is really them.
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What should I do if I have been targeted in a gaming scam?
- Report the account in-game and raise it with the user gaming support immediately.
- Contact your bank immediately if you think your information has been compromised or you’ve made a payment.
- Change your account passwords if you believe they have been compromised.
- Report the scam to the police at www.reportfraud.police.uk.
