Introduction to Fortnite Fraud
Children who play popular video games like Fortnite are being targeted by bank-raiding cyber-crooks. The game has become a "hunting ground for fraudsters" who want to steal money from parents by targeting gamer children. Fortnite is one of the most popular video games in the world, with hundreds of millions of players, many of whom are children.
How Fraudsters Operate
Usually, fraudsters target adults because they are the ones with money. However, Fortnite enables crooks to target more susceptible children because it provides a way to access parents’ banking accounts. The cyber security giant McAfee warns that millions of younger players are on the servers every month, along with a reasonable share of fraudsters who want to target them both within and outside the game.
The Role of V-Bucks
Everything is associated with V-Bucks, a currency in the game used to purchase virtual treats like "skins" for characters. V-Bucks can also be used to buy access to slaughter cards for special in-game rewards. However, these V-Bucks are bought with real money, which is good news for crooks. Fraudsters enter the picture here, as wherever money changes hands online, fraudsters will surely appear.
Types of Fraud
There are three main types of fraud that parents need to be aware of, and each can lead to their bank account being emptied. The first is a kind of phishing fraud where children are tricked into clicking on fake websites that promise rewards and discounted V-Bucks. These fake websites steal credit card information, which can then be used by crooks or sold on the dark web.
Social Engineering Con
The second type of fraud is a social engineering con where a crook pretends to be a friendly player and gains the trust of the child. The crook will then convince the child to share credit card information in order to obtain "discounted V-Bucks or items." The child may also be tricked into downloading malware-infected apps that steal information or money.
Account Kidnapping
The third type of fraud works by kidnapping the child’s account and then holding it for ransom. A crook promises the child free items, upgrades, or V-Bucks in exchange for their login information. The crook then takes over the account, steals information, and demands cash in exchange for returning the account.
Staying Safe on Fortnite
There are many ways to stay safe on Fortnite, from account settings to being aware of fraud. Parents should drive home the fact that V-Bucks cost real money and that it’s impossible to know who someone is online. Strangers who reach out of the blue are not the same as real friends. Parents should also remind their children that it’s always okay to speak to them or another trustworthy adult when a "friend" asks for personal information or something related to money.
Parental Controls
To start with parental controls, parents should go to Epicgames.com/login, sign in to their child’s account, and set up parental controls in the menu. They can register with a PIN and change settings as needed. One of the most important settings is a PIN for Epic Games, which prevents children from making V-Bucks purchases without permission.
Setting Time Limits
Parents can also limit the time their child spends on Fortnite. They can find this setting under time limit controls and limit how much time is spent on the game every day. They can even set specific time windows when the child is allowed to play. The time limits will apply during this window, and the child will see a notification when they have 30 minutes of playtime left.
Additional Safety Measures
Parents can also lock their child into safer virtual games in Fortnite and choose whether their child can send or accept friend requests. They can block voice and text chat or limit it to friends. Additionally, parents can set up weekly Fortnite Playtime Tracking reports. It’s also worth remembering that various consoles and devices have their own parental controls, so parents should ensure they set up the correct controls on their child’s device.
