Malware Alert for Amarillo, Texas: Free Video Games Used in New Scam

At least we can say this about scammers in Amarillo, they are branching out. The scams have grown over the years. There were relationship scams. Scams trying to get money from the elderly.

Over the years it has changed. They have come after your pets, they have come after your family member who may be in jail. They are really throwing that net out and just trying to see who they can catch.

This new one is pretty timely since the kids are out of school. They may be trying to get that teenager thinking this is a really cool deal. They may just be going after any gamer that they can.

Who doesn't want to play a new game? Who doesn't want something for free? That should be the first clue that something is up. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

According to a post from the Amarillo Police Department:

In this week's scam, cybercriminals are offering a free video game to try to trick you into downloading malware. They post a job offer online, claiming that if you download a free game, “PirateFi,” you can be paid to monitor the in-game chat feature. The free download and the promise of payment make this a tempting offer. But remember that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is!

This “free” game actually contains malware, and if you download it, cybercriminals can steal information from your web browser. Once they have stolen it, they can use it to access your online accounts. You won’t actually receive any form of payment. Instead, the cybercriminals will get paid in one of their favorite currencies – your personal data!

If you download the game, that is when your problems will start. It may be tempting but just stay away.