Online fraud

You may become a victim of fraud when playing video games. The risks are greater if you install additional software or make game-related purchases from sources other than trusted retailers. You may not get what you paid for. In addition, criminals may steal your bank account access codes or credit card information.

Beware of these situations!

An unbelievable special offer: you’re offered really cool skins and lots of game currency for free. This may be a scam. Your game account may be hijacked. 

You want to install a new modification to the game. The modification may install malware on your device that steals your user data or causes other damage.

Someone tells you that your gaming account has been falsely reported for a gaming violation and that your gaming account is at risk. They pretend to be helpful and want to fix the situation, but they need your account username and password to do so. This is likely to  be a case of phishing for your gaming account login information for criminal purposes.

How can I protect myself from fraud in games?

• Use two-factor authentication when logging into your gaming account, if possible.
• Never give your username or password to anyone else.
• Only make gaming-related transactions on well-known marketplaces and platforms.
• Be mindful of who you chat with and what information you share about yourself on gaming platforms.
• Also be wary of requests that ask you to visit sites outside the gaming platform or join external discussion groups.

What should I do if I’ve been scammed?

If you’ve lost money or your bank account access codes or credit card information were stolen, report the matter to the bank and the police immediately.

It is also a good idea to report any game-related scams to the game's reporting or support channels and refer to the game platform's instructions for more advice.