Can you get doxxed on GTA (Grand Theft Auto)?

Did you know that entering Lester Crest’s house displays the Illuminati picture in GTA V’s story mode?

Many online gamers have recently reported several instances of doxxing. The doxxers do it for either fun or heinous intention; harm, revenge, defamation, harassment, etc.

“Jdogtherebok: I have just got my account back after being hacked, and I would want to know why I have been reset. I personally have never done glitches and enjoy grinding. I don’t want to have to reset because someone hacked me, it isn’t my fault. I love red dead and GTA and this is totally upsetting when I saw my account get reset after I just got it back. So if you can please give it back. Thank you.”

Feedback: “You will not get your account back as all bans are FINAL and can NOT be appealed as YOU are responsible for the safety and security of your account as well as ALL activity that occurs on your account.”

Online gaming has been on the rise. Statista reports that there are around 2.5 billion online gamers in 2021. These numbers excite both the game developers and scammers equally. How long do you take on the internet hunting down the protagonists and antagonists?

Scam artists have a remarkable history, using the games to social engineer victims to acquire confidential information, ranging from counterfeit gaming apps to sending malware links to gullible gamers. You can carefully thwart the scam, especially if you learn how to tell the lies.

GTA cybertheft traps and how you can avoid them

Credential Stuffing

A doxxer steals your username and password to use on automated tools. This is malicious automated logging in of stolen credentials to web forms to gain unauthorized access to a user account. The primary intention is to find matches on gaming sites to access your account fully.

Successful login access allows doxxers to steal all your credentials. The intruder can accomplish any other malice with your data after that; steal armors, loyalty points, subscribe to premium upgrades, among others.

Nonetheless, you can avoid such instances by not retaining the same credentials across multiple online gaming platforms. Doxxers are aware of most gamers’ standard practices of credential retention and usage from one site to another.  

Malware codes

Doxxers have mastered the art of mobile gaming devices malware infection. How? A doxxer seduces you to download a ‘legitimate’ game. It might be a beta version, lite, or OS compatible version.

Immediately you download, your device is infected with the malware code. Once the code launches, the doxxer can spy, take full remote control, steal passwords and credit information, etc. They can empty your bank account for their pleasure. You may also find yourself downloading an infectious game version, GTA, for that matter.

How about posting erotic content on your social media accounts? Public shaming and defamation? What about Swatting?

But you can easily refrain from all these is to always download legit games from trusted platforms like Steam. Avoid downloads from unfamiliar sites. Do not accept links from strangers you meet online. They are the malware warehouses.

Counterfeit cheat codes, upgrades, and power-ups

Always ensure you get legitimate and standard cheat codes, power-ups, and upgrades from trusted sites, for instance, GTA cheat codes from Steam. You conquer GTA missions with additionally earned power-ups. You can get GTA armor upgrades like the Armored Kuruma to imperviously avoid gunfire.

Doxxers understand how you crave these bonuses. They just spam your GTA message board pretending to sell the power-ups, upgrades, and cheat codes. Staging an attack is easier for them, especially if they intend to steal money.

A more daring doxxer may approach you directly on your GTA forum with fake promises of the premier armory, etc. You will likely fall prey and transact with them, hoping for good deals. Immediately you confirm payment; the ‘dealer’ vanishes without delivery.

Ever felt victim to such a scam? What do you have to do? There’s no more perfect alternative than CAUTION! Never accept cheaper deals from strangers or unfamiliar sites. Always contact your manufacturer for purchase, or advise for reputable alternative sites. Do not give personal credentials to anonymous characters whatsoever.  

Phishing

A doxxer may get your email id from various social media accounts and platforms or data brokers. You often, if not always, receive emails from senders threatening to shut your financial accounts if you fail to click a link for account verification. If you haven’t, you’re lucky and do not accept either.

The link(s) redirects to cloned websites of your financial service provider. You will be required to fill in your confidential details- patterns, passwords, account number, social security number- for (bogus) account verification. Upon submitting the details to the site, the doxxer access your account and sell the information to data brokers.

Worst still, your GTA account password is changed, and you are locked out. How do you avoid this? Understand that no legit gaming company or platform sends spammy emails that threaten gamers. Be cautious and trust your instincts.

Your bank account and gaming platforms are two different entities you have more control over. Always countercheck and verify the ‘From’ option in your email inbox. Does it bear the GTA/Steam domain name? Does it end with a generic gmail.com?

Such emails are spam, and you should ignore, block, report, and unsubscribe. Alternatively, you can change your email here.

The International call scam

A Facebook community called GTA TeleGuam reported a rising case of an international call scam. These phone calls are expensive. Yet some genius doxxers make these calls for free. But is there a free lunch? There’s a gamer expense instead.

The doxxer will offer you that ‘free’ GTA download. The application makes international scam phone calls using your phone number when you download. Before you realize it, the doxxer will have amassed a lot of money fraudulently.

It’s dangerous, right? How do you avoid this? Once again, I insist that you should take precautions before accepting freebies. GTA announces their offers and bonuses on their designated official platforms. Download GTA on Google Play, App Store, Steam, and other reputable sources.

In summary

Online gaming has gained popularity over the past years. It is addictive. GTA attracts online gaming enthusiasts around the globe. You interact, link up, and cooperate with opponents, antagonists, and protagonists. Not everyone on the platform works for the common good GTA is among the avenues for launching doxxing attacks.

Occasionally, doxxing hits you due to recklessness. You have to take your online safety seriously. Do not expose too much information online. Avoid suspicious links. Refrain from subscribing to illegitimate platforms. Beware of imitations. Take precautions always.