Free PlayStation 5 Scam – What Attackers Want and How to Stay Safe

Who doesn't want a free PlayStation 5? This is exactly the simple reasoning behind the free PS5 scam that reguljarly shows up on social media, Facebook Marketplace and many other sites.

You would think that someone offering a free PlayStation 5 is immediately suspicious, and you would be right. If you're walking down the street and a stranger offers you a free gaming console, you would turn it down because it's beyond suspicious.

The same reasoning doesn't always apply online, although the conditions are similar. People tend to be more trusting online, and scammers know this all too well. They craft compelling stories that all of a sudden start to make sense, making that free PS5 look possible.

The Scam

Obviously, no one gives away free gaming consoles, but that doesn't mean that scammers are not going to try. This scam is still prevalent for a simple reason: it works. That's the same reason some scams only last a short while, seemingly disappearing forever: they didn't have the desired return.

The scam itself might seem straightforward, but it's actually a very complex combination of elements of social engineering, and the criminals' goals are not always the same.

In most situations, the scammer tells some sort of sad story that's very well thought out and might even sound reasonable. For example, they might say their only son just passed away and they are giving away some of their items, apparently now knowing the real value of a gaming console.

Playing on people's empathy is a successful tactic, but it's not the only one. Scammers might also claim that it's a giveaway in celebration of the company's anniversary, a milestone (like reaching a certain number of followers or subscribers), or some other special event.

Using the names of known influencers who are supposedly sponsoring the giveaway is another well-known tactic. The same goes for fake testimonials or reviews from supposed winners, and they might go so far as to create fake websites that look very much like the official ones.

Whatever the case, a sense of urgency is always present. Potential victims are rushed to make decisions because there's little time. Or at least this is what criminals want people to believe.

What scammers are actually after

For the most part, scammers want to make money, but not necessarily in the most obvious way. The crudest way to extract money is by convincing victims that they only have to pay the shipping, thus giving money directly to the perpetrator.

More complex frauds go a lot further, and scammers set up fake websites to extract much more than a shipping fee. They might ask for personal details such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, and even Social Security Numbers. Or they could set up an online payment portal that looks legitimate but is designed to extract credit card details, including the CVV number on the back of the card.

Many scams involve asking for a small fee to cover shipping or processing costs. While the initial amount seems negligible, it leads to unauthorized recurring charges that could increase significantly.

It's also worth noting that criminals might spread malware by tricking people on clicking on links or opening email attachments.

The sob stories of this scam are pretty much the same

One of the most common stories told by scammers is that of a dead son. They don't ask for money right away. They have real pictures of a gaming console, and you only have to send them a direct message.

Some of the messages are not written in proper English and have weird capitalizations, showing that many of these scams originate from countries that have entire industries devoted to Internet fraud.

PlayStation 5 scams – how to stay safe

First of all, it's worth remembering that no one offers free consoles out of the blue. This simple fact should make everyone suspicious immediately. Always be skeptical, even if the offers seem to come from some big company or influencer.

Pay attention to inconsistencies and red flags, such as unusual URLs, poor grammar, or unrealistic offers. Also, be cautious of any offer that creates a sense of urgency or pressures you to act quickly. Scammers often use this tactic to prevent potential victims from thinking critically.

Thirdly, you need to install reliable security software that can warn you about phishing sites and block malicious content. Solutions such as Bitdefender Ultimate Security will ensure that you're always protected and that you can live a scam-free digital life.

There's also Bitdefender Scamio, a next-gen AI scam detector designed to ensure all possible scenarios are covered. For example, you can upload the text from a Facebook Marketplace ad that seems too good to be true and immediately know if it's a scam.

Scamio can be used as a standalone chat solution or in WhatsApp or Messenger. Users can also upload images, QR codes, links and text to get feedback. Don't leave anything to chance, especially since Scamio is free to use.