Online gaming has grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade, with millions of gamers logging in every day to compete against their friends or strangers online. As a result, more and more gamers are connecting to online games via their smartphones and tablets or through video game consoles like Xbox and PlayStation.
According to Statista, there are over 3 billion gamers worldwide today, with new ones joining the fun daily. Unfortunately, however, with that growth has come an unfortunate parallel growth in the prevalence of scams and con artists looking to prey on inexperienced players.
With so many opportunities available to play against or together with other people, the chances that you will encounter at least one scammer during your time online have increased exponentially.
Learn how to avoid scams in the world of online gaming by following these 10 steps:
1) Protect your account
The first step to avoiding any sort of scam is to protect your account information. That means creating a strong, unique password and never sharing it with anyone. You should also enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
To avoid scams, you must keep personal information off of public forums. This includes your email address, home address, phone number, and other identifying information. Not only will this protect you from scammers, but it will also protect you from identity theft and other online crimes.
Also, set up an alert on your bank account so you can check for any suspicious activity as soon as it happens.
2) Don’t get lured by fake giveaways
There are a lot of scammers out there who will try to take advantage of online gamers. One way they do this is by setting up fake giveaways. They’ll promise free in-game items or currency, but all you’ll end up getting is a virus.
It’s always tempting to take advantage of a free gift, but in the world of online gaming, free gifts are often scams. Be wary of any offer that seems too good to be true. Be careful about any links you click while gaming, and only trust official sources.
3) Always read user reviews
When looking for a new game, one of the best things you can do is read user reviews. Not only will this give you an idea of what other people think of the game or item, but it can also help you spot any red flags.
A good sign that something is fishy? If there are more negative than positive reviews, it’s probably best to steer clear. Also, if the company doesn’t have any reviews or if they have too many reviews that don’t say anything but ‘I love this site!’
If there are many complaints about a game crashing or freezing, it’s probably not worth your time or money. There are many scams out there, and checking into these types of things before they happen can save a lot of hassle.
4) Check out in-game items first
In-game items can be a great way to get an edge on the competition, but you must be careful. There are a lot of scams out there, and if you’re not careful, you could lose a lot of money.
The best way to avoid these scams is to check out the in-game items first. Then, look at the reviews and see what other people are saying. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
5) Do not use public computers
Public computers are more likely to have malware or keyloggers installed, which can give scammers access to your personal information. If you must use a public computer, log out of all accounts and clear the cache before you leave.
6) Always look out for odd behavior
One way to avoid scams is to look for odd behavior. For example, if someone is asking for personal information that they shouldn’t need, or if they’re trying to rush you into a decision, be wary.
Take your time and don’t let anyone pressure you into anything. Don’t trust anyone who tries to make you feel guilty about taking precautions. If something feels off about a website, email, or person you’re dealing with, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a deal or refuse to give someone your personal information.
If you get an unexpected email that seems fake, don’t click on any links in the message and forward the message to the company the email claims to represent.
Always verify the identity of whoever you are gaming with on Nuwber using their names or phone numbers and report suspicious activity to authorities so that other people can avoid getting scammed too.
7) Protect your PC while gaming online.
Most online gamers use their personal computer to play games. Protect your PC by installing a good antivirus program and ensuring your firewall is turned on.
Anti-virus software is a must for any computer that you use for online gaming. Not only will it protect your computer from malware and other attacks, but it can also help prevent you from accidentally downloading malicious software yourself.
Be sure to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date and run regular scans of your computer to ensure it stays clean.
8) Stay alert when playing tournaments
Many online gaming tournaments have entry fees, and some even offer prize money. However, be on the lookout for tournament scams, where scammers will set up a fake tournament and collect entry fees without holding the event.
If you’re interested in playing in a tournament, research to ensure it’s legitimate before handing over any money.
9) Use private servers
Private servers are a great way to avoid scams, as they are not open to the public and only allow people you know and trust to join. This means there is less chance of someone slipping through the cracks and scamming you.
Additionally, private servers typically have moderators who can help keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it accordingly.
10) Beware of downloadable software
Downloadable software can be a great way for scammers to access your computer and personal information.
As you may know, though, not all online gaming sites are created equal; in fact, many of them aren’t created at all but rather are designed to trick users into thinking they are real websites so that players can easily share private information such as credit card numbers and passwords.
Be sure to download software from only trusted sources and read reviews before downloading anything.
Final Thoughts
The world of online gaming is a great place to have fun and socialize, but it’s important to be aware of the dangers that exist. These are just a few of the many ways that you can avoid online gaming scams.
By being aware of these dangers and taking precautions, you can stay safe and have fun while gaming online. Always be cautious when sharing personal information or money online, and never hesitate to report suspicious activity to the proper authorities.
