How To Protect Children From Gaming Scams
Help children stay safe from in-game currency scams, account theft, fake tournaments, and predatory in-game purchases.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Gaming is one of the main online spaces where children are directly targeted by scammers. Offers of free in-game currency or rare items, fake 'account verification' pages that steal login details, bogus prize tournaments, and pressure from in-game 'friends' to share information are all widespread. The best protection combines open conversations about how these scams work with practical account security — approached as something you do together, not as a restriction.
Common gaming scams
Gaming scams tend to follow a handful of recognisable formats once you know what to look for. In-game currency scams offer 'free' coins, skins, or gems in exchange for logging into a third-party website with the child's real account credentials, which are then stolen. Account theft often comes through messages from 'friends' or fake support staff asking for a password to 'verify' or 'restore' an account. Fake tournament or giveaway scams promise prizes for an entry fee or personal details that are never delivered. Some scams pressure children into buying gift cards to pay a stranger for supposed rare items, which then never arrive. Walking through these patterns with a child, using the actual language scammers use, helps them recognise the moment it's happening rather than after the damage is done.
- Free currency or skins generators that require a login — they steal the account
- Phishing links sent in game chat or Discord claiming account issues
- Fake tournaments with an entry fee but no legitimate prize
- 'Boosting' services that take payment and deliver nothing
- In-game friends asking for gift cards, personal details, or real money
Practical account protection
A small set of account settings closes off most of the ways gaming accounts get stolen. Turn on two-factor authentication wherever the platform offers it, so a stolen password alone isn't enough to break in. Use a unique password for each gaming account rather than reusing one across platforms, since a leak on one site can otherwise compromise all of them. Make clear, as a firm household rule, that passwords are never shared with anyone — not friends, not 'moderators,' not anyone claiming to be platform support, since real support staff never ask for a password. Review privacy settings together so personal details like real name, school, or location aren't visible to strangers in a public profile or chat.
- Enable two-factor authentication on all gaming accounts
- Use a unique, strong password for each gaming platform
- Never enter gaming credentials on any site reached via a link in chat
- Bookmark official game sites rather than searching each time
Having the conversation
Talk about gaming scams the same casual way you'd talk about any other online safety topic, so it becomes a normal part of conversation rather than a big, scary one-off warning. Ask open questions like 'has anyone in your game ever offered you free stuff for your login?' to open the door naturally. Make it explicitly clear, before anything happens, that your child will never be in trouble for telling you they clicked a suspicious link, gave out a password, or lost items or currency to a scam — the priority is fixing it together, not assigning blame. If something does happen, react calmly and focus on next steps like changing the password and reporting the account, since a calm reaction is what makes them come to you again next time.
- Frame it as 'these are everywhere — even adults fall for them'
- Agree: 'tell me straight away if you're unsure, no trouble'
- Ask them to show you any offer that seems too good
- Discuss what real games never ask for (full password, bank details)
Conversation script
“Real games and platforms will never ask you for your full password — if anything does, it's a scam.”
“If you ever see an offer for free stuff and it asks you to log in or share personal details, screenshot it and show me first.”
“You won't be in trouble if you've already clicked something — just tell me and we'll sort it out.”
Frequently asked questions
My child gave their password to a fake site — what do we do?
Change the password immediately on the real platform and on any other account using the same password. Check the account for unauthorised purchases and contact the platform's support team to report the compromise and request any charges be reversed.
How do I talk about this without seeming like I'm taking over their gaming?
Frame it around the scammers, not around them: 'There are people specifically trying to trick players into giving up their accounts.' Offer to help them secure their account rather than monitoring their play. Children respond well when it's framed as protecting something they care about.
Are in-game purchases always risky?
Legitimate in-game purchases through official platforms are generally safe. The risk comes from third-party sites, unsolicited links, and people in-game asking for real money or gift cards. Stick to official stores and treat anything else with scepticism.