How do I report a scam in an online game or gaming platform?
Report to the game publisher or platform using their in-game or website reporting tool. For real-money losses, also report to the FTC and your card issuer.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Gaming scams include fake item trades, phishing for account credentials, fraudulent third-party item marketplaces, and boosting services that steal accounts. Because much of the activity involves virtual currency or in-game items rather than cash, many victims assume nothing can be done — but real money is often at stake and reporting is worthwhile.
Report to the game publisher using their in-game reporting tools or by submitting a support ticket. Provide the username of the scammer, a description of what happened, and screenshots. Major publishers including Valve, Activision, Epic, and Riot Games have dedicated trust and safety teams that investigate fraud reports.
For third-party skin or item marketplaces that committed fraud, report to the FTC if you are in the US or Action Fraud if you are in the UK. If you paid real money for items or services that were not delivered, initiate a chargeback with your card issuer.
For account credential theft, change your password immediately, enable two-factor authentication, and review your payment methods linked to the account. Report the compromise to the platform so they can investigate whether your account was used to defraud others.
Common red flags
- A trade partner substituted a low-value item at the last moment before confirming
- A website offered game currency or items at prices too low to be legitimate
- A message from another player offered a free gift requiring you to log in via a link
- A boosting service took payment but never delivered the promised rank
- Your account was accessed from an unfamiliar device after clicking an external link
- A Discord message from a 'friend' offered skins in exchange for logging into a site
What to do now
- Report the player or transaction via the in-game report tool
- Submit a support ticket to the game publisher with full evidence
- Change your password and enable two-factor authentication
- Review and remove any unfamiliar payment methods on the account
- Initiate a chargeback with your card issuer for real-money losses
- See /scams/gaming-scams for common platform-specific scam patterns
Frequently asked questions
Can a game publisher return stolen in-game items?
Some publishers can reverse fraudulent trades or restore stolen items if you report quickly and provide evidence. This is not guaranteed and depends on the publisher's policies. Steam, for example, explicitly states it cannot reverse in-game item trades.
Is it worth reporting small in-game scams?
Yes. Reports build a picture of which players are running scam operations, and patterns across many small reports can lead to bans and larger investigations by the publisher.