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Police Issue Fresh Warning Over 'Fortnite' Fraud Online

Police Issue Fresh Warning Over 'Fortnite' Fraud Online

Action Fraud say con-artists are targeting players online for personal details

Rachael Grealish

Rachael Grealish

Police have issued a fresh warning concerning the video game Fortnite and players giving out their personal details online.

PA

Cheshire Police posted via Facebook, encouraging parents to talk to their children about sharing personal data on the game, which was first developed in 2017 by the company Epic Games and went on to become an overwhelming success.

The post read: "Do you or your kids play Fortnite? Beware of fraudsters offering free Vbucks.

"They will seek access to your account and create charges or may ask for your phone number and sign you up to premium rate subscriptions. Be careful with your personal data."

The advice comes after fraud and cyber crime reporting centre Action Fraud highlighted that con-artists target online gamers to obtain their personal information, with some players already having lost thousands of pounds to scammers focussing on the online game.

Action Fraud explained that between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018, 35 reports of Fortnite related fraud had been received, with a total loss of £5,119. Put simply, that averages out at £146 per victim - not a small sum of money to be losing, eh?

The organisation also also gave a warning about fraud on Steam digital gift cards, saying 37 reports of fraud had been received with a total loss of £44,455.98 - and again, just to make those maths a bit easier, that's an average of £123.88 per victim. Ouch.

The statement said: "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).

Epic Games

"Fraudsters will ask the victim for information about their account which will then allow them to log in and create fraudulent charges.

"Fraudsters are targeting victims in many other ways. These include asking for people's phone numbers in return for Vbucks to then sign the victim up to a premium rate subscription service, selling access to other people's Fortnite accounts, and offering VBucks for free then actually charging for it."

VBucks are a kind of in-game currency that can be spent in the game's Battle Royale PvP mode, as well as its Save the World PvE campaign. Players must purchase the currency with real money and the cheapest VBucks package starts at £7.99 ($10).

Epic Games have been contacted for comment.

Featured Image Credit: Epic Games

Topics: Police, GAMING, Warning, News