GAMERS can be targeted by scammers in multiple ways but you can protect yourself with these five rules.
Gaming cybercriminals use games to their advantage in scams to try and get a hold of data or bank account information to steal money.
The five rules were shared by security expert We Live Security which highlighted that gaming scammers have a lot of time on their hands to try and trick you.
They will also target gamers with the use of ransomware, viruses, and trojans.
A gaming account with a ton of add-ons like virtual currencies, skins, weapons, and more are seen as very valuable to gaming cybercriminals as well.
This is because they can sell these accounts for actual money to people who want to get their hands on the perks.
Credit cards can also be linked to a gaming account and if a scammer gets a hold of your they can rack up your bill and then sell your account.
Here is a breakdown of the five rules you should follow to avoid running into a gaming scam, per We Live Security.
1. STRONG PASSWORD
It is recommended to not use simple words for your password and add something to make it more complicated like a number/capital letter combination along with special characters.
2. MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
You can add additional authentication methods to prove it’s you from your devices which makes it harder for a bad guy to get in.
This includes a one-time code or a push from an authenticator.
Microsoft Authenticator has been recommended as a good option.
3. IN-HOUSE GAME CONTENT
It is better to purchase and download all your gaming content from inside the game’s own store or an official seller as third-party stuff can come with possible scams.
This can also lead to giving out your financial details to a scammer by accident.
4. GIVEAWAY SCAMS
Scammers will try to lure you into their scheme by making it look tempting disguised as a free giveaway of some sort.
This scam works because some games really do have free giveaways, but these will usually be in-game and not from a third party.
You always want to verify if the giveaway is coming from an approved source.
5. KEEP INFO PRIVATE
Always keep your account information to yourself and don’t share it to protect it.
It is also important to remember that a game admin or a developer would never ask for your credit card number or bank details.
