As I have often said, anything popular with people in general is popular with scammers and so it is with Fortnite, the world’s most popular multi-player video game. Fortnite is available now on iOS, PC, PlayStation4 and Xbox One. It is not yet available for Android devices and that is where the scam comes in. Scammers are sending convincing phishing emails to people telling them that they have been selected to receive the beta test version of Fortnite. The emails generally say that you will be sent a code within 72 hours to enable you to log-in to an online portal in order to retrieve the code necessary the play the beta version of the game. In the development stages of video games, beta versions are the last test versions created before the distribution of the final version of a particular game. In this case, Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite has warned people that the emails purporting to provide access to an Android beta version of the game is just a phishing scam seeking to either trick people into providing personal information that can be used for purposes of identity theft or even to trick them into downloading harmful malware, such as ransomware. This is not the first time such a scam has been perpetrated. Prior to the release of the mobile iOS version similar phishing emails were sent to unwary gamers. A mobile Android version of the game is expected within a few months, but no Android beta version of the game is being offered at this time.
TIPS
Phishing emails and text messages that lure you into clicking on links, downloading attachments or providing information are a constant security threat to all of us. You should never click on any link, download any attachment or provide information in response to an email or a text message unless you have absolutely confirmed that it is legitimate. For specific information about fortnite, you can always go to its official website http://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/battle-pass/season-4
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