Security News > 2021 > April > How scalper bots profit by buying and reselling Sony PS5 and Xbox consoles
These bots grab some of the limited stock of the PS5 and Xbox on eBay and Amazon and then resell them at huge markups, says PerimeterX. Scalper bots, or sneaker bots, have been chewing up supplies of the Sony PS5 and Xbox consoles amid a shortage of both units, leaving indvidual buyers in a lurch.
In a report published Thursday, bot fighter PerimeterX described the damage that automated bots are causing to consumers and retailers alike.
Since the 2020 holiday season, the bots have been pulling the same stunt with in-demand gaming consoles, specifically the new PS5 and Xbox Series X. As this specific tactic surfaced around Christmas, these programs earned the moniker Grinch Bots.
The transition from sneakers to consoles is a sign that the human scalpers behind these bots are looking for bigger bucks, PerimeterX said in its report.
A lot of gamers in search of PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles were none too happy with the activities of these bots, according to PerimeterX. The anger is especially intense given that the human scalpers behind them get away without any punishment.
"The resale of tickets purchased using bot technology was made illegal in 2016. Similar bills continue to appear on the legislative docket as well, such as the Stop Grinch Bots Act in 2019. Though legislation can be effective in combating bots and protecting online inventory, most online retailers choose to rely on bot mitigation software that proactively monitors and blocks sophisticated bots."