Table of Contents
Diamond Shield Management Korea Report: Common Online Gaming Red Flags To Know
Online games have bloomed during the pandemic but so have the scams related to this pastime. There are many dangers lurking on the internet. Moreover, when you immerse yourself in a top-notch game, it might be hard to spot them.
Therefore, it’s useful to be cautious and get informed. If you know what strategies gaming scammers usually deploy to trick people, you’ll be able to avoid them. So, here are some of the most common online gaming scams any gamer should be aware of.
Free Gifts
As it often happens, scammers try to lure people into a trap by using freebies. They take advantage of our curiosity and enthusiasm, which are increasingly high when it comes to our passions. Therefore, they post fake ads or send fake offers on gaming groups and forums as bait.
One common example you can read about online regards the world-famous game Fortnite. By the way, this game has more than 25 million fans. Moreover, almost a third of its US customers are teenagers. Since they are young and inexperienced, scammers might trick them easier.
So, what happened in the case of the popular game? Fraudsters promised players to offer them free add-ons such as guns and apparel. However, to enjoy the offer, they had to register their bank account on a website.
Clearly, scammers also operate that website. Thus, gamers who registered an account there basically handed their details to hackers. Moreover, the sad and worrying part is that many of those accounts belonged to gamers’ parents.
Yet, Fortnite was not an exception. Scammers usually leverage popular games, companies, or even celebrity names to con people. Other renowned names dragged into similar trouble were Final Fantasy and League of Legends.
In conclusion, the best way to avoid similar scams is to proceed with caution when you get an offer. If something is free, there is no point in providing your bank details to get it.
Fake Apps
Many gamers find it easier to play their favorite game directly from their mobile. This type of gaming experience can be very convenient and practical. You can enjoy a game whether you’re stuck in traffic or waiting for an appointment. Nonetheless, mobile gaming is by no means safer than using your laptop.
The same phishing scams you encounter while browsing online are present on mobiles too. The main difference is that hackers who target mobile gamers usually use fake gaming apps. These are either phony apps whose only purpose is to steal users’ data or copies.
The copied versions of popular apps usually have a few red flags you can spot. Here are a few of the major ones:
- The name of the game or game provider is misspelled
- The app’s logo and graphical elements are altered
- There is limited information on how to use the app
- Overall, the application has a poor design
Fake Websites
Similarly, there are also fake websites that are nothing but clones of popular ones. To make sure you don’t create an account on one of these, study their design. Fake websites, just like fake apps, usually have sloppy, low-quality designs.
Furthermore, they are easy to spot if you carefully look at the URL. Fake sites have misplaced or missing letters in the URL name. Their purpose is to obtain personal information. Therefore, think twice before creating an account on a gaming website that looks shady. Other red flags are missing contact sections or missing terms and conditions.
Spyware
Clever hackers can also sneak into users’ computers and steal personal data. The way they go about it is usually through spyware, which is a type of malware. Once you unknowingly download one of these on your PC, the program can access your files or accounts.
Gaming scams often rely on malicious links victims click on. Once they do this, the malware installs itself on their device. Scammers even disguise malicious software as useful gaming plug-ins they encourage users to download. The best way to avoid these scams is to have a good antivirus both on your PC and mobile. This tool will automatically block suspicious websites and unsafe downloads.
Account Takeover Scams
One of gamers’ major concerns is account takeover and for good reasons. If someone manages to find out your player ID and password, they can cause a lot of damage. On the one hand, they can access your profile information, including your name, contact, and bank details.
On the other hand, they can also access the items you won while playing. While in some cases these are mere symbolic awards, in others, they represent money. Some avid players gather nice amounts as they progress and earn more points or awards.
Bottom line: to avoid all these unpleasant but quite likely situations, it’s a good idea to use an antivirus. Also, never share your player account login details with anyone else.
This article is by, Diamond Shield Management Korea.
