Top 5 Gaming Scams You Must Avoid to Keep Your Account Safe

Gaming offers an exciting escape, but it also attracts scammers eager to steal your account or money. In 2021, Kevin Gosschalk, CEO of Arkose Labs, revealed that 27% of gaming traffic was malicious, with many attacks focused on taking over accounts. This shows how serious the threat is for gamers everywhere. Staying alert and informed is the best defense. Below, you will find the top five gaming scams to watch out for, with real examples and tips to protect yourself.

Fake Shopping Sites for Accessories and Upgrades

One common scam targets gamers looking to buy in-game items, skins, or upgrades at bargain prices. Scammers create fake websites that look legitimate, offering popular items at prices that seem too good to be true. These sites often appear in phishing emails or malicious ads on gaming forums and social media.

How the scam works:

• You click a link to a fake store.

• You pay for items using credit card or digital payment.

• The site disappears or never delivers the items.

• Your payment information may be stolen for further fraud.

  
  

How to avoid this scam:

• Always buy from official game stores or trusted platforms.

• Check website URLs carefully for misspellings or odd domains.

• Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or messages.

• Use payment methods that offer buyer protection.

  
  

Skin Phishing Campaigns

Skin phishing is a fast-moving scam where attackers trick gamers into giving away their account details by pretending to offer free or unwanted skins. Scammers create fake trading pages or marketplaces that look real. They send messages on platforms like Steam or Discord with links that lead to these fake sites.

Examples of scam messages:

• “Yo, I don’t know you unfortunately, but this is for you, I do not need that knife [link]”

• “I haven’t met you unfortunately (or not lol), but take it, I don’t need that skin [link]”

• “G’day – I don’t need this bayonet just take it [link]”

  
  

Clicking these links can lead to your account being compromised within minutes. Once scammers control your account, they often sell your items or lock you out.

Protection tips:

• Never click on suspicious links, even if they seem like gifts.

• Verify the sender’s identity before accepting trades or gifts.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your gaming accounts.

• Report suspicious messages to the platform immediately.

  
  

Account Takeover Attacks

Account takeover (ATO) attacks happen when scammers gain access to your gaming account by stealing login credentials. They may use stolen passwords from data breaches or trick you into revealing your password through phishing.

Once inside, scammers can change your password, lock you out, and sell your account or items. These attacks are common because many gamers reuse passwords across sites.

How to protect your account:

• Use unique, strong passwords for each gaming account.

• Activate two-factor authentication wherever possible.

• Regularly check your account activity for unauthorized logins.

• Avoid sharing your login details with anyone.

  
  

Fake Giveaway Scams

Giveaway scams lure gamers with promises of free in-game currency, rare items, or game keys. Scammers often create fake social media profiles or websites claiming to host giveaways. To enter, they ask for personal information, account details, or require you to complete surveys that steal your data.

Signs of giveaway scams:

• Requests for passwords or private account info.

• Urgency or pressure to act quickly.

• Offers that seem too generous or unrealistic.

• Links to unofficial websites or social media pages.

  
  

Stay safe by:

• Participating only in giveaways hosted by official game developers or verified partners.

• Never sharing passwords or sensitive info.

• Ignoring messages that pressure you to act fast.

  
  

Malware and Keylogger Scams

Some scammers trick gamers into downloading software that claims to boost game performance or unlock features. Instead, these programs install malware or keyloggers that record your keystrokes, capturing passwords and personal data.

Malware can also hijack your computer to mine cryptocurrency or launch attacks on other users.

Avoid malware scams by:

• Downloading software only from official sources.

• Using antivirus and anti-malware programs.

• Avoiding suspicious links or attachments in messages.

• Keeping your system and games updated with security patches.