Fake GTA 6 Early Access Websites Target Gamers with Malware and Crypto Scams

Summary

Cybercriminals are exploiting the hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI by creating fake "VIP Early Access" websites. These sites, designed to look professional with official branding, trick gamers into paying around $250 in cryptocurrency for non-existent game access. Instead of the game, users downloading fake files are infected with information-stealing malware, banking trojans, adware, or ransomware, with PC and Android users being the primary targets.

Full text

Security Gaming Malware Scams and FraudFake GTA 6 Early Access Websites Target Gamers with Malware and Crypto Scams GTA 6 scams are luring fans with fake early access, crypto payments and malware downloads. Learn why PC and Android gamers face the biggest risks online today. byDeeba AhmedJune 25, 20262 minute read Listen to this article 0:00 — ← 10s ▶ Play 10s → Speed 0.75× 1× 1.25× 1.5× 2× Voice Loading voices… Press play to start listening Gaming enthusiasts have been waiting for Grand Theft Auto VI for over a decade since the last game came out in September 2013, and publisher Take-Two Interactive has sold 225 million copies of it since. This 13-year gap naturally has made fans desperate for any hint of the sequel, and cybercriminals know this very well. That’s why they are using the game’s massive hype to steal money and infect computers. Security companies Malwarebytes and NordVPN just found a major wave of fake websites offering “VIP Early Access” to the game. These sites look highly professional. They use real GTA 6 logos and Vice City artwork to trick people. But it is entirely a trap. This is not the first time hackers have used this trick. Back in 2024, Hackread.com reported that Bitdefender researchers caught scammers running fake Facebook ads that used leaked gameplay footage to lure users into downloading fake PC beta versions of Grand Theft Auto VI. How the Crypto Trap Works In order for fans to skip the line, the fake pages require buyers to pay around $250, but the hackers only accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDT. Once a victim sends the digital currency and inputs their transaction ID to unlock the download, the money is gone. Because cryptocurrency payments have no chargeback process or fraud department, you cannot get your cash back. Victims click the large download button on the screen only to find out that no game actually exists. Websites selling fake GTA VI Beta keys and subscriptions (Source: NordVPN -Left) – Source: Malwarebytes (Right) PC and Android Players Face the Highest Risk Rockstar Games states that GTA 6 will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S later this year, on 19 November, and although official pre-orders opened on 25 June, a release date for computers or mobile devices is yet to be announced. Scammers are targeting this missing PC version by offering fake beta keys and files. However, instead of a game, these files install different types of malware. Downloading the fake files results in installing information-stealing malware, banking trojans, adware, or ransomware onto your device. Rockstar Games has confirmed that there’s no public beta programme available for the game. The scam is particularly dangerous for PC and Android users right now. Gamers must protect themselves by using tools that block malicious sites and by ignoring any offer that claims to sell the game before November. Deeba Ahmed Deeba is a veteran cybersecurity reporter at Hackread.com with over a decade of experience covering cybercrime, vulnerabilities, and security events. Her expertise and in-depth analysis make her a key contributor to the platform’s trusted coverage. View Posts CryptoCyber AttackCyber CrimeCybersecurityFraudGTA 6MalwareRockstarScam Leave a Reply Cancel reply View Comments (0) Related Posts Leaks Security Chinese firm leaked 200m Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn users’ data The 400GB worth of data was exposed due to a misconfigured Elasticsearch database. byDeeba Ahmed Security Apple News Malware New OSX.Pirrit Malware floods Mac devices with ads; spies on users Security firm Cybereason’s principal security researcher Amit Serper has discovered an invasive OSX.Pirrit adware variant that has been… byWaqas Security Cyber Attacks Malware The Weather Channel goes offline after ransomware attack The ransomware took The Weather Channel’s live transmission offline for almost an hour. Another day, another ransomware attack;… byUzair Amir Read More Security SAP NetWeaver Flaw Scores 10.0 Severity as Hackers Deploy Web Shells A critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-31324) in SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer puts systems at risk of full compromise. Learn how… byDeeba Ahmed

Indicators of Compromise

• malware — information-stealing malware
• malware — banking trojans
• malware — adware
• malware — ransomware

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