Action Fraud,\u00a0The UK\u2019s National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, has issued a warning to parents and online gamers of the risk of fraud involving\u00a0Steam Cards\u00a0and\u00a0Fortnite.<\/p>\n
Between April 1 2017 and March 31 2018, Action Fraud received 35 reports of Fortnite related fraud, with a total loss off\u00a0\u00a35,119\u00a0\u2013 an average of\u00a0\u00a3146 per victim.<\/p>\n
In the same period, Action Fraud received 37 reports of Steam Card fraud, with a total loss of\u00a0\u00a344,455.98\u00a0\u2013 an average of\u00a0\u00a3123.88 per victim.<\/p>\n
How is Fortnite fraud happening?<\/p>\n
Action Fraud has seen reports, made mainly by parents on behalf of their children, of fraudsters who are taking advantage of Fortnite gamers. In most reports, the gamer has seen an advert on a social media channel which claims that by following a web link and entering some information, they will receive free Vbucks (currency for the game). Fraudsters will ask the victim for information about their account which will then allow them to log in and create fraudulent charges.<\/p>\n
Fraudsters are targeting victims in many other ways. These include asking for people\u2019s phone numbers in return for Vbucks to then sign the victim up to a premium rate subscription service, selling access to other people\u2019s Fortnite accounts and offering VBucks for free then actually charging for it.<\/p>\n
How is Steam Card fraud happening?<\/strong><\/p>\n Action Fraud has seen a spike in fraudsters requesting Steam Cards as a way to gain upfront fees from unsuspecting victims.<\/p>\n Victims are being called by fraudsters, claiming to be from well-known organisations. The victims are instructed to purchase Steam Cards in order to pay for the processing of tax refunds or rebates, PPI refunds, administrative costs for processing loans and for providing anti-virus software.<\/p>\n