How do you tell the difference between legitimate gaming sites that are going to pay out and scams that are just trying to steal your money? If you’re serious about gaming, it’s important to know how to avoid scams in gaming. Read the tips shared by Raghib Khan

Do your research

When you’re looking into a game, take it upon yourself to do your research. If a site is spammy or has forums that are full of spam and fraud, chances are it’s going to be one of those sketchy sites. Doing your research can help you avoid scams in gaming—and save you some time and money.

Watch out for popular words on a game site

Once you’ve selected a game, search through it on popular sites like Google and Facebook. If those words show up with lots of spam or fraud warnings, then that’s a good indication that you need to proceed with caution. Don’t click on any one-off links—only follow links from official sites like Twitter or LinkedIn when playing your favorite games. And if something seems fishy (too easy), then stop right there; don’t even download it onto your computer.

Check if it’s trusted

Before you download any gaming application, be sure to check if it’s been reviewed by trusted sources. Trusted review sites often provide thorough insights on issues ranging from privacy policy violations and security glitches to suspicious third-party advertisements and hidden fees. Read user reviews of other players as well; you can learn how they feel about various aspects of an app, like whether they’ve experienced any fraud or spamming while using it.

Don’t trust anyone with an account name like admin or developer

Cybercriminals often use these accounts and avatars because they’re associated with power. When you see someone named Admin, Developer, or something similar (or some variation of those), report them. The video game community already has enough drama; we don’t need cybercrime mixed in.

Look at other websites about scamming

Before you spend a dime on a game, look around and see what’s out there. If you notice multiple websites talking about one game, particularly if they all say that it’s spam or fraud, proceed with caution. After all, nobody wants to get taken for their hard-earned money. When in doubt, ask trusted friends if they have heard of or used any games before you pull out your wallet. Do some homework before investing any money into an online gaming venture.

Report the person and move on from them

If someone scams you, it’s not your fault and definitely don’t take it personally. Report them to other gamers and move on from them. Don’t allow them to ruin gaming for you because some people are just out for a quick buck. If they can scam you out of a few dollars then they will probably scam others as well. These people also ruin gaming as legitimate companies are scared off by individuals like these who would steal their money.

Author Bio:

Raghib Khan is the Co-Founder and Director of RNF Technologies, a leading IT services and product development company. He has also co-founded several successful companies, including Phonato Studios, FNR Technologies, and Resourcifi. Prior to this role, he worked for AOL as a software engineer, where he was a key member of its e-commerce team. Raghib has been invited to share his expertise at several tech events. With a special interest in mobile gaming and product development, he has shifted his focus towards strategy building and creating anti-scam/anti-fraud detection technologies.