How In-Game Purchases Are Fueling Online Scams Targeting Kids

Online Gaming Scams: Key Insights

• Cybercriminals Target Young Gamers: Cybercriminals are increasingly preying on young gamers through in-game purchases, utilizing fake profiles and phishing tactics to take advantage of their vulnerability and access personal information.

• Escalating Risks for Children: The MPL report underscores how children are particularly at risk from gaming scams, with over seven million attacks on popular games in 2022.

• Roblox's Influence on Scams: The popularity of platforms like Roblox, where in-game purchases blur the line between fun and spending, has played a role in the surge of online scams, with more than half of its users being 16 or younger, making them prime targets.

A recent report from Mobile Premier League (MPL) has raised concerns about a growing trend of cybercriminals targeting young gamers. 

Exploiting the vulnerability of children, these scams pose significant risks to their safety, privacy, and financial security, similar to concerns in the wider context of in-game purchases and virtual platforms like Roblox. 

Children at High Risk 

The MPL report reveals that gaming scams often lead to identity theft, unauthorized bank account access, and exposure to online harassment. With children less able to differentiate between real and fictional scenarios, they are particularly vulnerable to manipulation.

Popular children's games such as Poppy Playtime and Toca Life World have been heavily targeted, with over seven million related attacks detected in 2022 by Kaspersky.

This rise in scams mirrors the growing trend of in-game purchases, such as power-ups and character skins, as seen on platforms like Roblox. These purchases have created a massive digital market, making it easier for scammers to exploit young users through unregulated communication channels and phishing attempts disguised as game-related content.

Connecting Online Shopping and Scams 

The booming success of platforms like Roblox, where in-game purchases represent a critical revenue stream, is closely linked to the rise of online scams. Roblox and other platforms allow users, especially young children, to spend real money on virtual goods, blurring the line between entertainment and commerce. 

This is particularly risky given the age demographics of the Roblox audience:

• One fifth of Roblox users globally are 9 years old or younger, with another fifth falling between the ages of 9 and 12.

• While 16% of users are aged 13 to 16, the largest group consists of 17-24 year olds.

• Users aged 25 and above make up 18% of the global audience, yet over half (58%) of Roblox's user base is still 16 or younger.

The Dark Side of In-Game Purchases 

Similar to how in-app purchases fuel the freemium model, these purchases often open opportunities for scammers to gain trust and steal personal information. 

By using tactics like fake profiles and phishing links, cybercriminals can exploit the spending habits of young gamers, mirroring the concerns surrounding impulsive buying and data privacy in virtual shopping environments.

Sources: E-Commerce Times, ECDB