The Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S are going to drop this
November, marking the start of a significant performance leap and kicking off the console gaming’s next generation.

Both
Microsoft and Sony are going head-to-head with their extensive pre-order
campaigns fuelling the sales before the original launch date. And believe me,
the hype is real because the stocks are selling out within seconds, with long
queues both outside stores and on the websites. It’s crazy out there!

But
with the excitement comes the misery, people have been reporting many incidents of
scams surrounding PS5 pre-orders. There are instances where PS5 pre-orders have
been stripped off people’s carts just moments before the check out. This whole
pre order process has already turned out to be messy, and the current trend in
scams is making the matter even worse!

While
all the original retailer sites have gone out of stock, desperate buyers are
now looking for other sources to get hands-on the pre-orders, and eventually
falling into the traps of scammers.

According
to the security giant Kaspersky, they noticed around 130 suspicious websites
mentioning the word ‘PlayStation’ in October alone, and the number is constantly
increasing with the launch date inching closer.

The
research mentioned that the scams were spread all around the globe, with no
particular regions having been targeted alone. Those scammers usually pose as
third-party retailers, seeking to collect cash from desperate buyers waiting on
pre-orders.

There
was a case reported where an email in Australia posed as Amazon, informed
consumers that their pre order is delayed till 2021 because of the company refuses to deliver the agreed stock amount. This incident reportedly scammed outlets like
PressStart AU even, later raising awareness and altering their coverage surrounding the issue.

GAME,
a retailer in the UK has also warned purchasers of possible scams, counting one on
Twitter collecting payment details of the customer. Twitter has now suspended the
account.

Reports
have also mentioned an unofficial website emerged as a retailer, looking to
fool users who are yet to secure next-generation consoles’ preorders.

The company clarified on Twitter that there is a false account on Twitter encouraging buyers to give an alternative method of card payment and replying to their tweets related to Xbox console and PlayStation 5 pre orders. The company reassured that it never needs payment details via social media of any customer and they are now taking relevant action against the fake account in assistance with Twitter.

⚠⚠⚠ pic.twitter.com/VovDFk8Qz3

— GAME.co.uk (@GAMEdigital) November 3, 2020

So,
if you’re someone who’s still looking for pre-orders and hasn’t got any, you’re
the one who should probably take notes from this blog! Here are five ways to
avoid falling into the trap of those nasty scammers conducting PS5 scam:

1. Don’t
   share your credit card details with anyone!

The
most obvious red flag for potential scammers is when they ask you for credit
card details over social media! No professional retailers operate via social
media, even if they do, they won’t ask your credit card details via social
messenger.

2. Double-check
   if the website is legitimate and true

 Before making any transaction, make sure that
the website is legitimate and official. It’s better to wait for some time, and
then to go broke by the scammers just days before the official launch.

3. Check if
   the website is listed in Sony’s official retailer list

First
of all, you should never make any transactions from a website that looks
suspicious in the first place. And to confirm it further, you can check Sony’s
official list of retailers available on its website.

4. Beware of suspicious emails, phone calls or text messages

If
you get a call or email posing to be an official Sony’s retailer, it’s safe to
confirm it by contacting the retailer’s official customer service facility. It
goes without saying, personal information should never be shared through
unreliable channels. Avoid responding to any unverified emails, calls or text
messages.

If
you really need to contact retailers, just watch out for all the tactics which are used in our digital age to deceive unwary buyers. And only choose to communicate via
trusted channels, such as the retailer’s official customer service portal,
number, or email.

5. Keep
   checking our website

If
you’re still on the look-out for a pre-order, we’re here to help! We’re keeping
track of all the retailers and stores that are officially selling PS5
pre-orders and units. So make sure to bookmark our website and keep checking
for the updates.