Video game players are being warned to be on the alert for scams, as Lloyds Bank reveals a fifth have been the victim – or know a victim – of a gaming-related scam.
As a way to target victims, sophisticated fraudsters are turning to online gaming. The pandemic saw gaming boom, with an average of 14 hours per week spent on Fortnite.
Gamers are tricked by fraudsters to hand over their personal information via email and in-game chats. They also convince gamers to download software plug-ins that can install malware on their devices.
Warning: Gaming surged during the pandemic, with the average player spending 14 hours a week on games such as Fortnite
The bank is rolling out digital literacy lesson plans to more than 9,000 teachers in partnership with UK gaming association Ukie.
Philip Robinson, fraud prevention director at Lloyds says that scammers are always looking for new ways to con people out of their money. Video gaming is no exception.
‘These are often criminal gangs who don’t care about who they defraud and will happily groom young players to gain trust and access their personal information.’
Video gamer Max Daniels, 28, lost £100 to a scam. Two of his favorite games were on sale on an online marketplace, according to the communications consultant. He said that he agreed to pay half of the asking price upfront, and the remainder when he handed over the games. But the seller wasn’t there when I showed up. Their online profile also vanished and their phone number didn’t work, so I knew I had been scammed.’
Lloyds urges gamers not to trust strangers online. They should hide their personal information and check before making any gaming-related downloads or purchases. Password protect their gaming network and delink their banking details from gaming accounts.