The global gaming market is currently pegged to be worth over $500 billion, making it one of the fastest-growing segments of the entertainment industry. This hardly comes as a surprise considering the popularity of Fortnite, Minecraft, etc., as a form of digital entertainment and pastime.
Online games like these allow players to get lost in a virtual space, doing things they can never imagine in the real world. Understandably, this can be pretty exciting. But the appeal of gaming doesn’t stop there.
For many people, competing with friends (and even total strangers) and scaling leaderboards can provide an immense sense of achievement. Most of the tasks and activities involved can also hone useful life skills (like teamwork and decision making). Plus, you also get to make new connections and possibly lifelong friends.
But gaming platforms are rife with scammers posing as genuine players. And if you aren’t careful, you can get lured into their shady schemes and compromise sensitive data or lose money to a financial scam. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t escape such malicious advances. There’s a lot you can do to identify and avoid fraudsters on gaming platforms. For instance, you could screen their profiles for inconsistencies or check their number on a reverse phone lookup site.
In this article, we unravel how you can effectively catch an imposter disguised as a "friend" and protect yourself from unwanted trouble on gaming platforms.
The Growing Problem of Gaming Scams
The popularity of gaming sites has made them a breeding ground for scams, particularly those targeting youngsters.
An estimated one in five gamers in the U.S. is below 18 years, and 38% are between 17 and 34 years. These younger generations are generally more vulnerable to gaming fraud than older cohorts, simply due to a lack of life experiences, which could make them lower their guard, especially when among peers.
But gaming sites are a faceless medium, and they can make it easy for scammers to disguise themselves as someone younger. So, you can never know who you are chatting with on these platforms. A person you consider a “friend” could be much older and approaching you with ulterior motives.
They might be looking to phish for sensitive data, download malicious code, take over your account, dupe you with fake rare items, or target you for financial scams.
For swindlers, the opportunities are boundless. For you, the risks are many.
How to Spot Impersonation Scams on Gaming Sites
To identify fraudsters posing as “friends”, look for the following telltale signs the next time you interact with someone on a gaming platform.
Shady Accounts
Often, cybercriminals use fake accounts for their nefarious schemes, and you can easily catch them if you pay enough attention.
The next time you get a friend request from a stranger, make sure you review their profile before letting them into your circle of friends. Look for anything fishy, like a short account history or photos that seem overly edited. You can also look up their phone number on a people search site and run a reverse image search on Google using their profile photo.
Overly Generous Deals and Discounts
Many people can’t resist a steep discount. This is why too-good-to-miss deals can be effective bait for tricking gamers into sharing their payment information or buying fake items disguised as a steal.
If you come across a deal that seems way too lucrative, take a step back and think twice. In addition, be wary of offers made on third-party sites (like forums or social media), and stick to the game’s official platform for buying in-game items.
Emotional Manipulation
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to swindles, both online and in the real world.
Scammers can, for instance, use limited-time offers as a pressure tactic to trigger your FOMO into buying rare items or cheats. Similarly, over-friendly strangers could use compliments and gifts to win your trust (let’s face it, we all like to be “seen” and appreciated) and get you to reveal confidential personal details.
Unusual Requests
Does a new friend you have met on a gaming site ask too many personal questions? Have they suggested you connect outside the gaming platform (say, on WhatsApp or social media)? Perhaps they have asked for some money via gift cards or cryptocurrency? Maybe they want you to keep your conversations a secret? If any of their requests or suggestions seem off, pay extra attention. You are likely dealing with an impostor.
Unsolicited Links and Attachments
These can download dangerous malware or take you to sites designed to steal your data. So, unless they originate from verified sources, avoid them at any cost.
Plus, bookmark your gaming platforms’ URLs to make sure you access the correct sites and not spoofed ones shared by someone else. If you need to download a gaming app, always use a reputable app store, double-check the developer’s name, and decline requests for unnecessary app permissions.
Inconsistencies
For example, a friend may only appear on a gaming site during specific times that seem inconsistent with their time zone. Or, you might find hints of non-native English during conversations with them (when they claim to be American).
Sometimes, you could be interacting with someone you already know, but may suddenly notice peculiar use of language, say, an unusual greeting or spelling mistakes. (This typically signals account hacking, but you can confirm your suspicions by calling your friend on a verified number.)
A Few Final Thoughts
Just like all other popular platforms, gaming sites have become hotspots for shady activities. Most scammers rely on impersonation tactics to win gamers’ trust by posing as peers or “friends". But by learning how to spot them, you can save yourself from a whole lot of trouble.
Adopting digital security measures will also pay off in minimizing risks. Protecting your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA is one of the critical steps to take in this regard. Also, remember to keep your device software up-to-date, use verified sources when accessing content and media, and protect your personal details, especially those that could compromise your identity and safety.
Moreover, always follow your instincts, and block and report if you come across someone suspicious.
