Online Gamers: Watch Out for Phishing Scam Emails, FTC Says
Individuals who play massive multiplayer online games should be on the lookout for email phishing scams, said FTC Consumer and Business Education Division’s Andrew Johnson in a blog post Thursday. Often, the emails warn an individual his or her account…
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is about to be suspended because “you tried to sell your in-game character or virtual goods for real money,” Johnson said. “It claims the gaming company may sue you for as much as $2,700 if you ignore the notice and continue selling virtual goods for real money,” he said. The email tells users to check the status of their accounts or challenge the suspension by clicking a link that will allegedly take them to a verification page, Johnson said. But in reality, “it’s all a trap to try to steal your personal info, like your account or credit card numbers,” Johnson said. To better identify phishing emails, Johnson recommended users: don’t reply and don’t click on links or call phone numbers provided; search the company’s real contact information and reach out on your own if you’re concerned the message is legit; make sure to use a security software from a trusted source and have it update automatically; and don’t open attachments or download files from unexpected emails.