Image courtesy of: https://trustplay.gg/articles/gaming-marketplace-scams-report-2025/

A recent report highlights a growing risk for young gamers using third-party marketplaces to buy or trade in-game items. These platforms, which operate outside official game stores, have become hotspots for fraud. 

Key findings:

High Scam Rates: One in three marketplace users gets scammed. Losses average $409 per incident.

Youth at Greater Risk: Gamers under 18 face a 41.6% scam rate, nearly triple that of older players.

Common Scam Types: Fake websites that never deliver items (38.5%), service scams (rank boosting), and phishing attacks leading to account theft.

Why It Happens: Scammers use professional-looking sites and fake reviews. Many victims ignore red flags like “too-good-to-be-true” pricing or time-limited deals.Platform Gaps: Even major platforms like Steam lack strong fraud detection and refund policies.

What Parents Should Do

• Talk to children about scam risks and FOMO tactics
• Encourage purchases only through official game stores
• Teach quick checks: search “[site name] + scam,” verify domain age, and avoid gift cards or crypto payments
• Enable two-factor authentication on gaming and payment accounts
• Use credit cards for better fraud protection
• If scammed, dispute charges within 60 days.

Have a safe weekend!