- Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders are available right now, with millions of fans flocking to secure copies of the game
- Researchers warn that the tension presents an opportunity for fraudsters
- Possible scams include fraudulent early access sites and fake retailers
Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders are available right now, giving millions of eager fans the chance to secure copies of what is already arguably the most anticipated game of all time. It’s an exciting time to be a gamer, but the pre-order frenzy also presents a huge opportunity for scammers.
We’ve already seen the rise of fake early access sites designed to steal your card details, but researchers at Norton say this could be part of a larger, more alarming trend.
Iskander Sanchez-Rola
Iskander Sanchez-Rola, senior director of AI and innovation at Norton parent company Gen Digital, warns that while every major game launch attracts fraudsters “GTA 6 is on a completely different scale.”
“Millions of people are looking for the latest trailer, trying to pre-order or hoping they’ve found a way to get the game a little cheaper,” he explains.
“That’s exactly what they’re exploiting. Fraudsters don’t need to break into Rockstar or hack the game. They just need to get between the excitement and the purchase.”
He says that the team at Gen has already found a number of scams that shoppers can fall victim to. These include fake pre-order sites with attractive offers on the game, but Sanchez-Rola warns that it is not just buyers of the physical edition who are being targeted.
“There are also fake gift card offers,” he says. “Many people will look for the cheapest way to buy GTA 6, and scammers know it.”
The threat even extends beyond the search engine results page to Discord, a messaging service hugely popular with gamers and other social media platforms.
“We found dark web services that advertise tons of Discord messages and tools that help criminals target gaming communities,” he reveals.
“Instead of hoping someone finds a fake website, they can put the fake offer directly in front of people who are already talking about it.”
Scam links will often take you to a fake login page and collect your credentials so criminals can access your PlayStation or Xbox accounts.
Fortunately, Sanchez-Rola has some great advice to help keep buyers safe: “The biggest thing is not to rush.”
“If someone bids GTA 6 for much less than everyone else, or they’re selling deeply discounted gift cards, so take a moment to check if it actually makes sense,” he continues. “The few minutes you spend verifying a website is nothing compared to the time it can take to recover a compromised account.
“I would also be careful about links shared via Discord or social media. Players naturally rely on recommendations from other players and scammers know that.
“Finally turn on multi-factor authentication for your gaming accounts. Most people think they’re protecting a single game, but what they’re really protecting are years of purchases.”
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