The FBI has warned consumers about a newly discovered fake “earn-to-play” mobile and online game that tricks victims into depositing cryptocurrency and then stealing it.
in a public service statement (opens in a new tab)the FBI said, the elaborate scheme had the scammers contact potential victims first and try to build a relationship with them.
After the back and forth, crooks invite victims to play online or mobile games, where players can allegedly earn cryptocurrency rewards in exchange for certain activities, “such as growing ‘crops’ on an animated farm,” the FBI said.
deposit cryptocurrency
But getting into the “game” isn’t free — victims must first create a cryptocurrency wallet and deposit some money, and that’s where the real scam begins. The scammers then told the victims that the more funds they deposited, the higher the profits.
However, once the victim stops depositing additional funds, the crooks drain the wallet and never see or hear from it again.
In some cases, scammers have told victims they can withdraw deposited cryptocurrencies if they pay additional fees or taxes, the FBI said. However, all of this is just part of the scam and victims end up losing even those extra deposits.
Play-to-earn is an emerging gaming model that shows real promise in the democratization of earning money through games. There are a variety of games built on blockchain technology that allow players to earn large amounts of money, often by generating valuable in-game assets that can later be sold or rented out.
Until now, the only way to make money from gaming was to stream, or become a pro gamer, both of which are major undertakings that require expensive equipment and countless hours devoted to gaming.
pass: beep computer (opens in a new tab)
