{"id":92740,"date":"2018-11-15T17:34:35","date_gmt":"2018-11-16T01:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=92740"},"modified":"2025-08-30T02:55:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T09:55:42","slug":"fake-gaming-currency-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/fake-gaming-currency-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Get PWNed by Fake Gaming Currency Sites"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a gamer, you know how important virtual currency is. It allows you to purchase new costumes and weapons to personalize your avatar. But how does one go about gaining virtual currency? Players complete in-game challenges and are rewarded with coins to spend in their virtual world. These challenges can be pretty difficult and time-consuming to complete. As a result, many players look to various websites\u00a0<\/a>as an easier way to download more gaming currency. Unfortunately, malicious actors are taking advantage of this trend to scam gamers into downloading malware or PUPs (potentially unwanted programs).<\/p>\n

There are a variety of techniques scammers use to trick players into utilizing their malicious sites. The first is fake chat rooms. Scammers will set up seemingly legitimate chat rooms where users can post comments or ask questions. What users don\u2019t know is that a bot is actually answering their inquiries automatically. Scammers also ask these victims for \u201chuman interaction\u201d by prompting them to enter their personal information via surveys to complete the currency download. What\u2019s more \u2013 the message will show a countdown to create a sense of urgency for the user.<\/p>\n

These scammers also use additional techniques to make their sites believable, including fake Facebook comments and \u201clive\u201d recent activity updates. The comments and recent activity shown are actually hard-coded<\/a>\u00a0into the scam site, giving the appearance that other players are receiving free gaming currency.<\/p>\n

Tips to Avoid Cyberthreats<\/h2>\n

These tactics, along with a handful of others, encourage gamers to use the scam sites so cybercriminals can distribute their malicious PUPs or malware. So, with such deceptive sites existing around the internet, the next question is \u2013 what can players do to protect themselves from these scammers? Check out the following tips to avoid this cyberthreat:<\/p>\n