How do I get money back after being scammed in an online game or gaming marketplace?
Contact the game platform's support team first — most have policies against scamming and may reverse in-game transactions. For real-money purchases, dispute through your card issuer.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Gaming scams occur both within games (item theft, fake trades, skin gambling) and around them (fake game currency sellers, counterfeit game keys, phishing for game account credentials). Recovery options differ significantly between in-game asset theft and real-money losses.
For real-money purchases — buying game keys, coins, or skins from a third-party seller who then does not deliver — treat this like any e-commerce fraud. If you paid by credit card, file a chargeback for non-delivery. If you paid via PayPal Goods and Services, open a dispute. Cryptocurrency or gift card payments to gaming scammers are very difficult to recover.
For in-game asset theft where a scammer tricked you into a bad trade or stole your items, contact the game platform's support team (Steam, Epic Games, Riot Games, etc.). Platforms have different policies — Steam historically did not reverse accepted trades, citing terms of service, but some platforms do intervene in documented fraud cases. Provide chat logs, screenshots, and a timeline of the incident.
Account takeover cases — where someone stole your game account login and drained your inventory or sold your account — are treated more seriously by platforms. Report immediately, provide proof of original ownership (email confirmations, purchase history), and request account recovery. Also change your email password and any other accounts using the same credentials.
Common red flags
- Offer to trade game items that seems far too favorable to you
- Third-party site selling premium game currency at a steep discount
- Trade window shows different items from what was agreed in chat
- Link sent in-game claiming to be a 'free skin' or 'item giveaway'
- Someone asks for your account details to 'help' with an item transfer
- Fake account claiming to be a game developer or moderator
What to do now
- Contact the game platform's support team immediately with evidence
- Dispute any real-money charges through your card issuer or PayPal
- Change your account password and enable two-factor authentication
- Report the scammer's profile to the platform
- File with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if real money was lost
Frequently asked questions
Are game items considered real property that can be stolen?
Legally, game items exist within the game publisher's platform and are typically licensed, not owned. However, theft through deception or account hacking may violate fraud laws, and platforms take serious action against documented thieves.
I was scammed buying a game key — the key was already used. What do I do?
Report to the retailer where you bought the key — legitimate platforms like Steam, Humble Bundle, and Fanatical will replace defective or used keys. If bought from an individual or gray-market site, dispute the charge with your payment provider.