It’s National Video Game Day.

The fact that it’s actually true reveals some interesting numbers about an activity that isn’t just for kids, especially when you consider:

• Globally, it’s estimated there are 3.32 billion active video game players.
• There are more than five million video games in existence, everything from Minecraft and Fortnite to MLB The Show and the other games we play on a PlayStation 5 or a Nintendo Switch to the games we can play on our phones that are advertised on TV.
• In 2025, it’s projected that the amount of revenue that is generated by gaming will reach $522.46 billion.

Unfortunately, amid all the fun we’re having with that kind of activity, cybercriminals are using phishing attacks to trick gamers into revealing their personal and financial information and their account credentials using a variety of tactics, including:

• Impersonation - Scammers pose as game developers, platform providers (like Steam or Roblox), or even popular streamers to gain trust.
• Fake Offers - They may offer free items, exclusive access, or "beta" testing opportunities to lure players into clicking malicious links or providing information.
• Account Verification Scams -Scammers may send emails claiming your account needs verification, urging you to click a link that leads to a fake login page.
• Browser-in-the-Browser Attacks - These attacks create convincing fake browser pop-up windows that mimic legitimate login pages, even displaying the correct URL, to steal credentials.
• In-Game Scams - Scammers may pose as other players, offering in-game items or upgrades for a fee, then disappear with the money.

Fortunately, just as there are a lot of strategies, we can use to win the game we’re playing, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself when you’re online, including:

• Be Skeptical - Question any unsolicited emails, messages, or offers, especially if they seem too good to be true.
• Verify Links – Be sure to carefully examine the sender's email address and the URL of any links before clicking. Look for misspellings, unusual characters, or different domain names.
• Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication - Create strong, unique passwords for your gaming accounts and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
• Stay Updated - Keep your gaming platform's software and your operating system up to date with the latest security patches.
• Report Suspicious Activity - Report phishing attempts to the gaming platform or service provider and warn your gaming community.
• Be Cautious with Information - Avoid sharing personal information like your address, phone number, or date of birth in public forums or chat.
• Educate Yourself - Stay informed about the latest phishing tactics and security best practices.

Regardless of the type of gaming you’re into, you just want to have fun, right? Yet, as we’ve learned with everything else we do online, there are risks, even if we think we’re going up against our friends, turning back the clock to play a game of Donkey Kong, or dusting off our ATARI Home Pong console for some (now) vintage video gaming.

Even with that, you don’t have to use any cheat codes to keep your gaming experiences safe and secure. Instead, be sure to stick to the best practices that are recommended and just as you would when you’re in the game, trust your instincts to make sure it’s “game over” for any would-be cybercriminals or scammers.