- grand theft car 6 Pre-orders are now available and millions of fans are flocking to secure copies of the game.
- Researchers warn that excitement presents an opportunity for scammers
- Potential scams include fraudulent early access sites and fake retailers
grand theft car 6 Pre-orders are available right now, offering millions of eager fans the chance to get their hands on 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 websites designed to steal your card details, but Norton researchers say this could be part of a broader, alarming trend.
Iskander Sánchez-Rola
Iskander Sanchez-Rola, senior director of AI and innovation at Norton parent company Gen Digital, warns that while every major game release attracts scammers “GTA 6 It’s on a completely different scale.”
“Millions of people are looking for the latest trailer, trying to pre-order it, or hoping they’ve found a way to get the game a little cheaper,” he explains.
“That’s exactly what they take advantage of. Scammers don’t need to break into Rockstar or pirate the game. They just need to get between the excitement and the purchase.”
He says Gen’s team has already uncovered a number of scams that buyers could fall victim to. These include fake pre-order websites with attractive deals on the game, but Sánchez-Rola warns that it’s not just buyers of the physical edition that are being targeted.
“There are also fake offers for gift cards,” 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 popular with gamers, and other social media platforms.
“We found dark web services that advertise mass Discord messages and tools that help criminals attack gaming communities,” he reveals.
“Instead of waiting for someone to find a fake website, they can present that fake offer directly to the people who are already talking about it.”
Fraudulent links will often take you to a fake login page, collecting your credentials so criminals can access your PlayStation or Xbox accounts.
Fortunately, Sánchez-Rola has some sage advice to help keep buyers safe: “The most important thing is not to rush.”
“If someone offers GTA 6 for much less than everyone else, or they sell deeply discounted gift cards, take a minute to see if it really makes sense,” he continues. “The few minutes you spend verifying a website are nothing compared to the time it can take to recover a compromised account.
“I would also be careful with links shared through Discord or social media. Players naturally trust recommendations from other players and scammers know this.
“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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