Security News > 2023 > March > FBI warns of cryptocurrency theft via “play-to-earn” games
Cybercriminals are now using fake rewards in so-called "Play-to-earn" mobile and online games to steal millions worth of cryptocurrency, according to an FBI warning on Thursday.
"Criminals contact victims online and build a relationship with victims over time," the FBI says in a public service announcement issued via the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
"Criminals then introduce victims to an online or mobile game, in which players purportedly earn cryptocurrency rewards in exchange for some activity, such as growing 'crops' on an animated farm."
To be able to participate in these big reward games, the victims are instructed to buy cryptocurrency and create a crypto wallet.
The criminals will then tempt victims with fake rewards to entice them to deposit more and more funds but will drain their wallets once the victim stops making deposits.
FBI urges all victims to report incidents via the Internet Crime Complaint Center to help put a stop to these scams.