GTA 6 early access scam warning issued ahead of pre-orders going live
Tech experts are warning over fresh GTA 6 scam warnings that started to make their way through the community in the build up to pre-orders going live.
With a price tag still unknown but rumoured to cost more than $200 for some, all eyes are on Thursday (25 June) when Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive will finally let the world secure copies of the latest, and probably greatest, edition in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
No third delay here, with a 19 November release date still on the cards and a marketing campaign chomping at the bit to kickstart the summer months.
Now, experts at tech security firm Malwarebytes have issued a new warning today (23 June) to those who might think they can get early access to the game.
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In a statement, the company said: "A new wave of scam websites is offering something millions of people want: a way to play Grand Theft Auto VI before it comes out.
"'Get GTA 6 before everyone else'; 'buy VIP early access'. Pay a few hundred dollars in cryptocurrency, enter a payment code, and supposedly unlock the game.
"But it’s a scam."
According to the firm, sites saying they can sell you early access to GTA 6 are lying through their teeth. I mean, that's hopefully no surprise given how closely guarded Rockstar has been over GTA 6. But hope clouds judgement, and all that jazz.
"You pay, you get nothing, and because the payment is made in cryptocurrency, there’s usually no way to get your money back," they add.
How to spot a GTA 6 early access scam
Images of scams have been shared with LADbible by Malwarebytes, with people asked to pay for early access via cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Etherium, and Tether.
Stylised like the purpose advertising around GTA 6, it looks pretty legit - even if the images are clearly AI generated slop.
Look out for wording like 'VIP Digital Access', 'Exclusive Early Access Preview'. These aren't real, folks.
"The example we examined charged $250 and accepted only Bitcoin, USDT, or Ethereum," Malwarebytes says.
"The final step reveals what’s really happening. After sending cryptocurrency, victims are told to wait for payment confirmation and then enter their transaction ID to 'unlock' the download. There are QR codes, payment verification messages, and a large DOWNLOAD button.
"But there is no game."
Signs it is a crypto rip off - and how to protect yourself
According to the tech gurus, its the perfect crime given crypto payments cannot be reversed, on the whole.
"There’s no chargeback process and no fraud department to call. Once you send the money, it’s gone," they say.
And to add to that, GTA 6 is an exclusive product for Rockstar only. Ignorance of this will not protect you from being scammed out of a couple of hundred dollars.
It comes as no surprise then that the official line is that you should do what the rest of the world is going - wait until 19 November.
By all means pre-order this week - many of you probably are already set to - but we've already waited so long for the new game, what's another five months when its guaranteed to come out this year?
Topics: Technology, GTA, Gaming, Money
Tom Earnshaw