How do I protect myself and my family from gaming and in-game scams?
Buy in-game currency and items only through the game's official store, never share your login credentials for boosting services, and set spending controls on your child's gaming account.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Gaming scams exploit the enthusiasm players have for progression and rare in-game items. Free currency generators, boosting services, and account gifting scams are consistently among the most visited fraudulent sites by young users. Understanding the specific patterns protects both children and adult players.
Free currency generators — sites claiming to add Robux, V-Bucks, Coins, or any other in-game currency to your account for free — are universally fraudulent. No third-party site has the API access to add currency to a game publisher's accounts. They exist to steal credentials, install malware, or keep users completing surveys that generate ad revenue. The moment a site asks for your username and password, close the page.
Account boosting services (paying a third party to play on your account to raise your rank) violate almost all game terms of service and result in bans, but also expose your account to theft. The boosting service now has your login credentials and can sell the account, steal linked payment methods, or hold it for ransom. Use the game's official channels exclusively for any account services.
For parents: enable parental controls that require approval for any purchase, set monthly spending limits through your console or platform's family settings, and link the child's account to your email so purchase confirmations go to you. Talk through what real in-game purchases look like so your child can recognise third-party scam sites.
Common red flags
- Website offering free in-game currency, items, or ranks with no payment required
- Service asks for your game login credentials to 'access your account'
- Unexpected in-game purchase charges on your linked payment method
- Friend or contact in-game promising to gift items if you share your account
- Message claiming your account was flagged and you need to log in via a provided link
- Purchase confirmation emails for amounts you did not authorise
What to do now
- Enable parental controls and spending limits on your child's gaming accounts
- Only buy in-game currency through the official in-game store or platform
- Never share login credentials with any third-party service
- Check linked payment methods for unauthorised charges regularly
- Enable two-factor authentication on all gaming platform accounts
- Report fraudulent gaming sites to the FTC and the platform
Frequently asked questions
My child was scammed in a game and lost Robux or V-Bucks. Can they get them back?
Contact the game publisher's official support — Roblox, Epic Games, and others have support processes for investigating fraudulent transfers, though recovery is not guaranteed. File a report so they can track the scammer's account. Going forward, ensure 2FA is enabled and review how the account was accessed.
Are player-to-player trading platforms for in-game items safe?
Some are legitimate businesses, but third-party trading platforms carry real risks: chargebacks reverse payments leaving sellers without items or money, accounts involved in real-money trades may be banned, and the platforms themselves vary greatly in their fraud prevention. Evaluate each platform's reputation independently before using it.