Cybercriminals are having a field day with the massive excitement surrounding preorders of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), and it's putting gamers at serious risk.
NordVPN, which is on our list for having one of the best VPN deals, has found a surge of scams and malware campaigns designed to trick fans desperate for early access to the blockbuster game, which launches this November.
The bad actors are getting creative, too. They're dangling fake beta keys — fraudulent early access codes and downloads — that don't exist, spreading infected game files through dodgy online sites, and setting up convincing scam pages to steal login details. If successful, these criminals could get hold of your personal information
Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN, said: "GTA 6 is one of the most anticipated releases in gaming history, and that level of public excitement is exactly what criminals look for. When people are desperate to get early access to something, their guard comes down. That's the window attackers exploit."
Both PC and Android users are being targeted, which is particularly sneaky given that GTA 6 won't even be available on those platforms at launch. Instead, the game will be available on Sony PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
And hundreds of these fraudulent sites are now circulating online, many hosted on trusted platforms like GitHub and Vercel.
The fake beta key scams work in a pretty simple yet effective way. Victims are lured to websites promising exclusive access codes for PS5 and Xbox, then asked to fill out a form and complete a "bot verification" step.
The catch? You could end up subscribing to paid services or downloading unwanted software instead of getting any game access.
Even nastier are the Trojanized game repacks targeting Windows users. Criminals have created convincing copies of popular piracy sites like FitGirl, DODI, and ElAmigos.
One sample detected in May showed just how sneaky these attacks can be. The malware disguises itself as a normal graphics driver, quietly running in the background while it downloads additional nasty software and connects to remote servers for instructions.
There's also a fake Android app doing the rounds called GTA 6 Beta that's nothing but an empty shell. It looks convincing enough, featuring authentic Rockstar Games branding and an intro video, but there's no actual game inside whatsoever.
Instead, it bombards you with full-screen adverts and pushes them towards dodgy external pages trying to get them to sign up for paid services or download more malware.
The app uses clever tricks to hide what it's really up to, and researchers traced it back to a domain known for spreading malicious software and ransomware.
Meanwhile, hundreds of fraudulent online pages are targeting Rockstar Social Club accounts through fake login forms. Stolen credentials could end up sold on dark web marketplaces or used for in-game fraud.
NordVPN advises only downloading game content from official stores like PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketplace, or Rockstar's own platform. Any other source should set off alarm bells.
You should also be deeply suspicious of any beta key offers. Real betas for big games are only announced through official channels, never random websites asking you to verify your identity or subscribe to something.
And always double-check web addresses before entering login details anywhere. Fraudsters have a habit of switching URLs by as little as one character to trick you into thinking it's the real deal. For instance, "playstation.com" could be changed to "platstatien.com" by a fraudster, hiding malware.
GTA 6 is the sequel to Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5), which is the biggest-selling entertainment product in history — bringing in $1 billion in revenue since its release in 2013.