Most online mobile games are reliable and exciting for users, with a charm of bonuses and rewards. The pandemic gave enough time to the users to explore these mobile games online and boost the developers whose creations were finally gaining a boom. But, the gaming industry’s gain attracted scammers’ attention as well, and they tried to invade the people’s data to breach their personal information and avail benefits. Concerning this invasion, we talked to the Co-Founder of RNF Technologies, Raghib Khan, who also leads the company’s product development arm, Phonato Studies, which develops mobile gaming applications.
Raghib Khan Reveals Popular Online Gaming Scams
Deposit Theft Scam
As the name suggests, fraudulent gaming operators ask for initial deposits as security and don’t return them to the gamers. Once the gamer registers and guarantees the amount, the operator closes or freezes the accounts. There is no way to reach the operator as the numbers and information are fake. Small deposit users don’t go behind scammers for long, as they don’t find it worthy of investing time and energy in such issues. Whereas more extensive thefts infuriate the gamers, who get into the matter to shut those games and get their money back. It is even people and concerned gaming authorities who get to know about the scam behind these online games.
Pirated Versions Of Popular Online Games
As people don’t trust new or unpopular games, scammers have figured out a new way to scam people in the gaming industry. They duplicate the original and popular games, mislead people with names, and thus get their information and money. Once the game is downloaded, it can lead to quick data theft, making you susceptible to being scammed, warns Raghib Khan.
Ransomware Attacks
You randomly enter your personal and credit card details to start playing a game online and even download it on your device or mobile as the game instructs. The game offers you bonuses, rewards, and free spins for following the instructions. After some time, you notice a warning message asking for money to return your credentials. This is what happens when you download a scammed online game. As pointed out by Raghib Khan, scammers attack with ransomware and target you to pay them to get your data back.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is a global issue in which thieves take away your personal data and sell it on the black market. These duplicate games act like legitimate ones and let you play the game while they keep selling your data in the background. Sometimes, they freeze user accounts and ask them to re-enter the details. In rare cases, they steal away your credit card information and create a clone to make payments in your name.
Refusal To Pay Rewards
Many games try to trick people by offering alluring real money as rewards. It’s a heart-breaking scam as even though the gamer successfully completes all the levels and wins the prize money, the operators refuse to pay them. They will either disappear or ignore the calls, and sometimes they tend to remind you of the hidden clauses that restrict you from winning your earnings.
After discussing a few commonly used online gaming scams, let’s learn how users can avoid falling for such scams.
Steps To Avoid Online Gaming Scams
Verify The License
Before you decide to download or give away your information to any online game, check its license. A trustworthy money-based game will have verified permission at the bottom of the website. Cross-check the license number with the control issuing authority. Once done, you can rely on and play that verified online game. It may appear a long process, but it’s essential for your data and financial security.
Review Terms & Conditions
Reading terms and conditions gives you an insight into what you are downloading. It’s a crucial step in sharing your information with the platform. Because disregarding them would get you trapped in a financial scam, points out Raghib Khan. So, take your time and scan the terms and conditions of the game before playing your fortune.
Read The Reviews
Most gamers try to warn others by writing reviews on the game’s website. But, when new user signs into the game, many forget to read those reviews or consider them. It’s time to read the reviews and learn from others to save from getting trapped in these online gaming scams. Also, you can get a list of online games that pay your bonuses or rewards for real. Getting an online recommendation before signing in to a new money-based online game is a great idea, suggests Phonato Studios’ Raghib Khan.
Check Payment Methods
Money-based online games require the gamer’s personal and financial information, so it’s better to check the payment methods and their reliability before playing a game. Take your time, research well, and only enter your details on these gaming platforms when you feel confident.
Customer Care Support
Most legit online games offer responsive customer care support to support gamers. If your game doesn’t have a point of contact or unresponsive customer care, it’s time to take a back step. Online games are effective only if they provide quick information and responses.
Avoid Unbelievable Bonuses
To capture gamers’ attention and interest; scammers often provide considerable benefits regarding rewards, extra spins, or bonuses. If you experience such rewards while playing, don’t fall for them; instead, get cautious. Reasonable rewards are acceptable, but it’s time to rethink continuing the game when their bonuses become unbelievable.
Although online gaming is a trending industry, gamers and game developers must stay cautious from scammers. Scammers are using the big gaming names to run their scams, and gamers are getting robbed online by these scams. Also, it’s advisable to file a report against any gaming scams if you have experienced one. That would save other people from facing the same and also alarm the authorities to look into the matter. Raghib Khan, Co-Founder of Phonato Studies, also suggests people check the game’s security and the software companies that helped develop the mobile games.
