Man playing an online game.

Looking for an online platform to buy CSGO skins or maybe some in-game currencies? While there are a ton of them out there, there are a ton of scam sites as well. Here is the Farming Less guide on how to protect yourself from scams in the gaming world. 

Types of Scams in The Gaming World

In-Game Items and Video Game Accounts Scams

The first type of scam deals with in-game items like CSGO skins and video game accounts. You might unknowingly enter a scam site to buy some CSGO skins for cheap or an Apex Legends account, but they will give you nothing even if you have made the payment.

You might also enter a site that claims to buy your in-game items for a high price but gives you nothing and runs away with all your stuff. 

Login & Credit Card Information Scams

The second and probably the most common type of scam in the world of Gaming is stealing credit card information and login credentials. Scam sites can see all the information you enter on their website, including credit card information. 

Many people use the same username and passwords as their other important accounts like email or Facebook. Scammers try everything in their power to figure out your credentials, so they can later blackmail you or sell that information to others. 

Free In-Game Items Scams

You might come across a website claiming to give you free skins for doing some easy work, like watching an ad or completing a survey. While there are a ton of legitimate platforms that do offer free skins, some of them give you nothing once you do all the work. 

Tips on Protect Yourself from Scams

Check for Legitimacy

The first thing you should do before using an online platform is figuring out whether they are legitimate or not. It is only the non-legitimate platforms that engage in illicit activities. 

For example, skin gambling sites usually get regulations and certifications from big names that verify their legitimacy. Some of those big names include the Malta Gaming Authority and the Curaçao Gaming Control Board.

Check for SSL Encryption

Scam sites can only see the information that you enter on their sites if they don’t have an encryption protocol. SSL is the industry-leading encryption protocol. It protects user data from getting leaked and also protects the site owners from getting their sites hacked. 

You can verify whether a site has SSL encryption by looking at its URL in the search bar of the browser. If there is a closed lock before it, it has SSL encryption. 

Look at User Reviews

Another way to find out whether a platform is a scam or not is to look at user reviews for it. However, there is a caveat to this. The thing is, it is not hard for a platform to pay people to write fake positive reviews for them. 

Also, people usually feel the need of writing a review when they are not satisfied with a product or service. All of this means that reviews don’t paint an accurate picture, which is why they should be taken with a grain of salt. 

Farming Less – The Ultimate Solution For Scam Protection

All the tips that we have mentioned above are very effective at filtering scams. However, you will have to do that with all platforms that you are thinking of using, which may take hours. 
If you don’t want to waste that time, simply check out Farming Less, where we have reviewed all kinds of online marketplaces and gaming-related platforms. We have a strict no-tolerance policy against scammers, and we highlight all sites that engage in scams.