GTA 6 malware and scams are on the rise, and they’re targeting PC and Android users because Rockstar is skipping those platforms for the game’s launch.
NordVPN said that the hype around GTA 6, which launches pre-orders this week, had provided the perfect opportunity for scammers — who are going after fans set to miss out on the game when it launches only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in November.
“The title will initially launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with the PC version expected later — and that gap is exactly what scammers are weaponizing,” NordVPN said in a post on its website. The scammers are “dangling the one thing those users won’t get anytime soon: GTA 6,” NordVPN added.
NordVPN had detected fake GTA 6 beta keys and subscription traps, and to make them feel more legit scammers have even asked their targets to fill out a short form or go through a fake “Are you a bot?” verification step. It’s also worth being mindful of Android adware masquerading as a GTA 6 beta. These fake apps lead to websites that may include infostealers, banking trojans, adware, and ransomware. There are also trojanized GTA 6 repacks, where threat actors build clones of well-known piracy and repack sites to distribute Windows malware disguised as game files.
“Scammers play on curiosity and fear of missing out (FOMO), so avoid any GTA 6-related offers, links, and messages that awaken such emotions,” NordVPN recommended. “Using link checkers to test suspicious links can also help avoid getting scammed.”
Obviously, there is no GTA 6 beta or subscription plan, and there’s no GTA 6 on PC — yet — or on mobile. So it’s better to ignore anything that promises either of those things. We are expecting a PC version of GTA 6 at some point officially from Rockstar, although when remains a mystery. It’s one of the seven burning questions we have for GTA 6 we’re hoping the launch of pre-orders on June 25 finally answers. That, and how much the game will cost.
The lack of a PC version of GTA 6 at launch is one of the biggest talking points around GTA 6. Strauss Zelnick, boss of Rockstar owner Take-Two, has always answered in vague terms when asked why GTA 6 is launching on console only, pointing to the eventual PC releases for Rockstar games in the past. Clearly, there is a huge appetite for GTA 6 on PC, which is why malware and scammers are targeting PC gamers.
While we wait for answers to these questions and more, check out IGN’s analysis of the GTA 6 cover art, our report on the fresh look at Vice City, and how fans are finally accepting that GTA 6 won’t get delayed again.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.