Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports show that there have been over $690 million in gift card-related scams in the last 4 years. Among them are scams connected to Steam gift cards, and these cyber criminals majorly target people using the internet gaming platform
Steam is a highly recognized gaming platform with thousands of digital titles, in-game content, and special DLCs. But it is also a playground for tricksters.
These cybercriminals are devising new strategies on how to empty people’s wallets. They can either come with a fake PayPal invoice, a sketchy promise of a unique knife skin, or an unbelievable “free generator.” And the moment they get your Steam Wallet code, you can never undo the damage, not even with a “Ctrl + Z” button.
In this article, we’d like to give you a heads-up with our curated pro tips on how to avoid getting burned by scammers. The Top 5 Steam Gift Card Scams will guide you to protect yourself, your wallet, and your digital assets.
Top 5 Steam Gift Card Scams You Need To Know
1. The PayPal Invoice Scam
Scammers use payment invoices from reputable platforms like PayPal to trap their victims. This is how they do the magic: These scammers create a fake PayPal invoice indicating that the user is in debt, and the invoice appears like you bought something you didn’t. Then, they pressure you to pay off the debt using Steam gift cards.
Another side of this scam is that people will come requesting to buy Steam gift card with the promise to send you payment via PayPal in exchange for Steam card code. But as soon as you transfer the code, you will never hear from them again.
I remember when my kid brother fell victim to this scam. He received an email that looked like it was sent by PayPal, implying that he owed $40 for some random eBook package he did not even buy. The message said there would be legal action against him unless he offset the debt immediately via gift card payment.
He panicked quickly, rushed to purchase two $20 cards, and forwarded the codes to them. When he told me, I asked him if he bought any ebooks and didn’t pay, and he said it might have been by mistake, but he doesn’t remember ever doing that.
I quickly rushed to check the email. Just by seeing the headers, I knew it was fake. I told him, and it dawned on him that he had been scammed. The worst part? The scammer even replied once, saying, “Thanks, more, please,” before going completely silent.
Tip: PayPal will never request payment via gift cards. If you see something like that, know it’s a scam and alert the authorities immediately.
2. Phishing Emails from Fake “Steam Customer Support”
Scammers can mimic the email pattern of the official Steam company and send you a phishing email. In these emails, they will promote fake deals, too-good-to-be-true game discounts, or even an account recovery alert.
If you are curious, click the link. In that case, it automatically leads to a spoofed login page to steal your details, and they will immediately have access to your Steam Wallet, wipe off your funds, or even use the Steam account to steal money from other users.
I remember the day my sister, Clara, fell for these fraudsters. She used to be a big fan of indie games on Steam. One day, one official-looking email popped up in her inbox, saying her account had been flagged for suspicious activity and that they needed her to “verify” her identity or get banned permanently.
She felt helpless and had to click the link. She logged in via the link they provided in the email, which was how she lost her account. There was about $312 worth of credit on her Steam Wallet, and those fraudsters emptied that account without mercy. When she reported to the main Steam support, the account had already been used to scam two other users. It was a harsh lesson for the family that day.
Steam Security Tip: Confirm the sender’s email address and avoid logging in through emailed links. Instead, visit store.steampowered.com directly.
3. Impersonation of Legitimate Businesses or Government Agencies
Another common scammer tactic is impersonating a well-known company or organization—such as a local law enforcement agency, bank, or Apple support—and serving you with documents proving you owe a fee or fine.
They’ll insist that you clear the bill using Steam gift cards, and you’ll need to buy a gift card or use your existing cards. They simply need the card’s code, so you can’t trace the debit transaction. If you, by any chance, send them the codes, forget it; your money is as good as gone.
I almost fell into the trap of these bad guys three years ago. I got a call from someone claiming to be from the “Cyber Crime Division of Nigeria’s FCC,” it sounded so convincing. They told me my internet activity had been linked to a cyber fraud case that could lead to jail time.
They advised me to pay some money so they could help me with their legal team to clear my name. But I was surprised when they insisted I pay using Steam gift cards. I knew something was fishy. They even emailed fake legal documents. And with the money I tried to oblige, I saw things that made me believe they were scammers.
I was told not to involve anybody, including my family members, or it would complicate things. I contacted a lawyer friend, who confirmed it was a scam. Looking back, I still feel chills realizing how close I was to losing money to scammers.
Note: No legitimate government agency, tech company support team, or reputable business will request payment via Steam Wallet codes.
4. Steam Gift Card Generators
One easy way they trap their victims is by offering free money. People love free money, and there is a high probability that people will want to grab free things. So, they design a website that promises to give out free Steam codes – Steam gift card code generators. That’s the biggest scam. No website just generates free Steam codes.
Some code generators deceive people into believing they exploit vulnerabilities in Valve’s system to generate working codes.
One of my friends, James, wanted to surprise his cousin, who is a video gamer, with a Steam gift card for his birthday but didn’t have the money. He started searching for “free Steam gift card codes” on the internet. So he stumbled on a strange-looking website that offers free codes.
He got interested and even went further to fill out a “quick survey” they sent him. After completing the survey, he noticed that his browser was becoming unusually slow, redirecting him to other shady pages.
That was when he realized that his laptop was already infected with spyware; his passwords had been compromised. He had to reset his computer to rectify the problem completely. Sadly, they never sent any code to him.
The truth is:
- Every Steam gift card code is highly encrypted and secure
- Each of the codes is validated ahead of time and stored in Valve’s protected database
- No algorithm loose ends or backdoors can be used to generate actual codes unless they pay for the codes legally.
This is how these sites steal from people:
- They deceive people into participating in a user survey to generate ad revenue
- When you sign up for the survey, they will install malware on your PC or gadget.
- Ga.in access to your info or passwords.
Gaming Gift Card warning: Stay clear of any offer that sounds too good to be true; it is. Avoid code generator apps and websites — they’re just digital bait.
5. Steam Trading Scams
The Steam community is not left out. Scammers prey on them by offering fake trades. Let me give you a practical scenario:
A scammer can offer someone a unique CS: GO knife skin instead of a Steam gift card and demand that you forward the card code first. But as soon as you forward the code, they’ll ghost you. You won’t even get the CS: GO Knife Skin or anything.
In 2022, I was hyped to get a rare CS: GO knife skin. One of the guys I bet on a trading forum agreed to sell it to me, but I’ll have to pay him with a $50 Steam gift card. I checked out his profile, and it looked legit.
I decided to keep chatting with him to connect and build trust. So he insisted I get the gift card and send the code first because he had been scammed many times. My mistake was believing him. I had to get the gift card and send the code; it was a one-time opportunity.
Guess what? After I sent the code, he blocked me and disappeared. I was shocked to my bones. It was such a painful experience. Don’t trust anybody, even people you meet on unofficial trading platforms. These days, I use a credible and reliable platform like Prestmit to sell my Steam card.
Here are their other techniques:
- They can guarantee you a digital game offer at a reasonable rate and give you the option of paying using a gift cards
- They can send fake or fairly used Steam Wallet codes.
- They can use stolen credit cards to buy gift cards and still charge them back after the trade.
Steam Store Security Tip: Ensure your gift card transaction happens only on the Steam store. Do not deal anywhere else or with users you don’t know or trust.
How to Avoid Steam Gift Card Scam
1. Protect Your Gift Card Purchase Receipts
You must secure the receipt of your gift card purchase. This will help you regain your funds after being scammed. If you reach out to Steam support, they will demand that receipt, and they can use the receipt to track or suspend any activity on the card.
2. Don’t Redeem Or Activate Cards You Are Not Ready To Use
Don’t be tempted to jump into redeeming your card when you don’t even want to use it for anything. Keeping your gift cards inactive is safer until you are ready to use them. Gift cards that haven’t been used can easily be refunded. However, once they have been used, the issuer company will find it difficult to retrieve them.
3. Avoid Sharing Your Steam Wallet Codes With Other People
Whether you are using a digital or physical card, protect the code that comes with the card. Your Steam wallet code should be private to you and not be shared with anyone to avoid falling prey to fraudsters. It will be difficult to get your code back once scammers gain access to it.
4. Add Extra Layers Of Security To Your Account
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) protection is a good way to keep scammers from accessing your digital wallets. Feel free to include additional layers of security in your Steam account. An account with multiple layers of protection can hardly be hacked, unlike the one that is just protected by a username and password.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Steam Gift Card Scam Protection
How can I verify if a Steam gift card seller is legitimate?
Just ensure you are dealing with an authorized retailer. Also, check for online reviews, company policies, and contact information before paying.
Avoid dealers who come to your social media DMs or sellers without a verifiable business presence.
What should I do if I’ve been scammed?
Quickly report the incident to Steam.
Also, contact your bank or card issuer if payment was made via card. Remember to document everything and report it to your local fraud or cybercrime unit.
Are Steam gift card trades ever safe?
Trades done within Steam’s official marketplace are secure. Do not deal with off-platform trades unless you know and trust the person. Do not send gift card codes first unless you’re using a secure escrow service.
Conclusion
Steam gift cards offer gamers various gaming titles and access to top-notch digital assets; however, scammers are beginning to hijack these cards and use them to defraud people. Whether you’re a random internet game player or a die-hard gamer, protecting your Steam Wallet codes should come first. And the easiest way to do this is by trading on highly secured and trusted platforms like Prestmit. Be on guard, and double-check every deal before jumping on it. That’s the best way to keep your gameplay scam-free.
Remember: It is if something feels off or too good to be true. So, play smart, and don’t let scammers steal from you.
