Scams
Ongoing coverage on Scams.
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How to Spot a CS2 Skin Scam API Scams, Fake Middlemen and Spoofed Offers | Invision Game Community
This guide details how to identify and avoid common scams in Counter-Strike 2, focusing on API key exploits, fake middlemen, and spoofed trade offers. It emphasizes the importance of Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator, verifying domains, and using official marketplaces to prevent inventory loss, as Steam Support will not restore stolen items.
Just Five Minutes of Checks Beats Losing Your Deposit | Invision Game Community
This article provides a guide on how to avoid fake online casino sites, which are often cheap copies of legitimate ones. It highlights small clues like malfunctioning live chat or payment options, and emphasizes the importance of checking a casino's license and reading player complaints to identify potential scams before depositing money.
GTA 6 'demo' delivers malware directly to your PC
Scam websites are distributing malware disguised as a Grand Theft Auto 6 demo, despite Rockstar Games not having released any playable version of the game. Users are warned against downloading any purported early access builds.
That Heartwarming Animal Clip in Your Feed? Assume It’s Fake [2026]
The proliferation of AI-generated images and deepfakes is making it increasingly difficult to discern real animal footage from fabricated content, leading to scams and eroding trust in legitimate animal welfare organizations. While new laws and AI features aim to identify machine-made content, current solutions are partial, leaving individuals like Mibbby Butler vulnerable to scams involving lost pets.
Crypto’s weakest link isn’t the code — AI scammers now just talk you into signing
Criminals are increasingly using AI tools like deepfakes and chatbots to perpetrate cryptocurrency scams, shifting focus from software vulnerabilities to social engineering. TRM Labs reports a 13-fold increase in AI-powered scams since 2022, with losses in 2026 already exceeding the previous year's total. This trend highlights a growing risk where even secure hardware wallets and authenticated logins can be compromised if the user is deceived.
The Chatbot Beat the Con Artist: AI Doubled the Scam Success Rate in a New Study
A new study from Northeastern University and other institutions found that AI chatbots are twice as effective as human con artists in persuading targets to fall for investment scams. Even when participants correctly identified the chatbot, they were more than twice as likely to comply with its requests, such as downloading an app or playing an online game.
Evening Safety Dance
Attackers are exploiting critical vulnerabilities in WordPress for malicious purposes, leading to various security issues. Concurrently, scammers are impersonating the FBI on social media to target crime victims, highlighting a rise in sophisticated online threats.
Expert says GTA 6 pre-orders are a big target for scammers — warns 'scammers don’t need to break into Rockstar or hack the game' to steal your details
Experts are warning that Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders are a prime target for scammers, who can exploit player excitement without needing to hack Rockstar Games directly. Scammers are creating fake pre-order websites, offering fraudulent gift cards, and even targeting gamers through social media platforms like Discord to steal personal and account information.
Threads' ubiquitous Mr Beast spam is part of a massive crypto scam network
Fake Mr Beast promotions are widespread on the social media platform Threads and are part of a large cryptocurrency scam network. These fraudulent schemes exploit the influencer's image to deceive users.
GTA 6 Scams Are Already Spreading Online as Experts Warn Fans to Stay Vigilant | Invision Game Community
As anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI builds towards its November launch, cybersecurity experts are warning fans about a surge in online scams. Scammers are creating fake early access offers, fraudulent beta downloads, and malicious software disguised as game files, exploiting the hype surrounding Rockstar Games' upcoming title. Players are urged to remain vigilant and only trust official information from Rockstar Games to avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.
Grand Theft Auto 6 'VIP early access' scam sites are already popping up, Malwarebytes warns
Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes is warning consumers about scam websites falsely offering early access to Grand Theft Auto 6 for hundreds of dollars, payable in cryptocurrency. These fraudulent sites exploit the immense hype surrounding the game's release, which is scheduled for November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with no PC release date announced. Malwarebytes advises caution, especially when payments are requested in cryptocurrency, as such transactions are irreversible.
Morning Safety Dance
Web browsers and Cloudflare are collaborating to enhance defenses against malicious bots. Separately, a WIRED article highlights the increasing difficulty in spotting World Cup-related scams.
Steam's "most expensive game" is $1000, and you can't actually do anything
A game titled "Congratulations On Your Purchase" is available on Steam for $999.99, described as a "first-person luxury experience" with no gameplay mechanics and a duration of only 10 minutes. Developed by Minimum Viable Prestige, the game features a palace interior and allows players to leave messages. Despite its high price and lack of reviews or active players, it is Steam's most expensive game, sparking debate on forums about whether it constitutes a scam.
Scammers Are 'Dangling the One Thing' PC Gamers Won't Get Anytime Soon: GTA 6
Scammers are targeting PC and Android users with Grand Theft Auto 6-themed malware and scams, exploiting the fact that Rockstar Games is not releasing the game on these platforms at launch. This tactic preys on gamers eager for the title, leveraging the absence of an official release on PC and Android.
Steam announces its discontinuing gift cards
Steam, operated by Valve, has announced the discontinuation of its physical Steam Gift Cards, which were introduced in 2012. Retailers will stop stocking them by the end of the year due to an increase in scams that exploit gift card users. While physical cards are being phased out, digital gift cards will remain available.
Valve will stop producing physical Steam gift cards because of scammers
Valve will cease production of physical Steam gift cards due to ongoing issues with scammers. The company has decided to discontinue the physical format to combat fraudulent activities associated with them.
Can’t have anything in 2026—Steam is killing physical gift cards because, you’ve guessed it, scammers
Steam is discontinuing physical gift cards in 2026 due to ongoing issues with scammers. The company is advising customers not to redeem any physical gift cards they may possess.
Valve confirms it won't restock Steam Gift Cards
Valve has confirmed it will no longer restock physical Steam Gift Cards at retail locations, with current stock expected to run out by the end of 2026. The decision comes as scammers have increasingly exploited gift cards as a method for fraudulent activities, a problem Valve has been unable to fully mitigate despite various countermeasures.
Valve Discontinuing Physical Steam Gift Cards Because of Scammers
Valve is discontinuing the sale of physical Steam gift cards after 14 years due to persistent issues with scammers. Despite efforts to combat fraud, the company found it impossible to keep up with fraudulent schemes. Physical gift cards will cease production, and existing stock will be depleted by the end of 2026, with Valve exclusively offering digital gift cards through its storefront moving forward.
Danger Zone
Valve is discontinuing physical Steam gift cards due to their misuse by scammers. The company cited instances where scammers used these cards to defraud individuals, such as tricking them into believing they needed to purchase gift cards to bail out relatives.