MILLIONS of gamers are being urged to check their account after Microsoft announced a “surprise cash giveaway”.
Users of Xbox are being told they’ve been sent some “free money” –but some gamers have been left baffled over the message.
Hundreds of gamers have taken to social media this morning after the tech giant’s unexpected announcement.
Users logging on to the game have been met with a pop-up message that reads: “Check your chat.
“We’ve sent you some money!
“Redeem your promo code from chats, and save on exclusive offers.”
According to some observers, that’s not unusual from Microsoft, which reportedly often offers free games and promo codes.
But hard cash? Well, that’s slightly different ..
Confused gamers
As such, it is an issue that has confused users – with most gamers who clicked on the ad raising a cynical eyebrow or two.
The r/Xbox subreddit lit up this morning after the announcement.
Multiple users piled into a thread to share their frustration – with some being hit with a black screen when they click on the ad and others claiming it could be a “phishing scam”.
One user, who received the message posted: “Yes I have it.
“Got a nice little rush of anticipation and went to my chat.
“Also nothing.
“Bit disappointing.”
‘Phishing attempt’
Another user said: “I have the same message in the store but no messages from Xbox.”
A third person posted” “Well I contacted support and they’re saying it’s a phishing attempt.”
The “free money” ad is reportedly limited to UK users of X-Box.
The announcement from Microsoft comes just weeks after experts warned children who play hit video game Fortnite were being targeted by bank-raiding cyber-crooks
Parents were warned that the game has become a “hunting ground for scammers” looking to steal your cash – by taking aim at gamer kids.
Fortnite is one of the world’s most popular video games with hundreds of millions of players around the world – many of them children.
Normally scammers target adults because they’re the ones with money.
But Fortnite can be used by crooks to target more vulnerable children, as it gives them a route to parents’ bank accounts, cybersecurity giant McAfee is warning.
The Sun has approached Microsoft for comment.
What is a ‘phishing scam’ – and how to stop fraud?
Phishing is a scam where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information.
Typically, the goal of the scammer is to steal a user’s banking information, identity, or passwords.
Action Fraud advises that the public follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to keep themselves safe from fraud.
- Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
- Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
- Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
How to report
- You can report suspicious text messages you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to 7726, which spells SPAM on your keypad.
- You can report suspicious emails you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to report@phishing.gov.uk.
- If you have provided personal or financial details as a result of a suspicious message, or lost money because of a scam, you should report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040
