The usual PS5 scam is making the rounds on Facebook again, telling a tragic story and trying to scam users by using Sony’s latest generation gaming console as bait. The latter, which even today remains in very limited stocks in many parts of the world, seems like the perfect bait for such a scam since so many people around the world are still looking for a way to get their hands on it. Now the scam promises users a “free”PS5 in exchange for – wait – absolutely nothing.
PS5 scam: how it works
As they say in the security industry, if something about an online deal sounds too good to be true, it’s because it probably is. Said PS5 scam works by having users post the same message, mostly aimed at public groups rather than individual accounts, stating that the man’s daughter died one day on her way back from college after she was hit by a speeding car. The person in question then says that he bought a PlayStation 5 to surprise his daughter, but now that the said daughter is no longer alive, the person wants to give away the PS5 because seeing it makes the person go into a stupor. tears.
The sequence of the story itself has all the important red flags that are reminiscent of infamous phishing scams from princes stuck at customs and borders and needing strangers to send foreign currency – with a return promise to provide millions of dollars in return.
The PS5 scam in question has a few red flags – for one, a simple search of the exact text of this Facebook post will show users how multiple users experienced the same tragedy at the same time, and show images that show they bought the same PS5s for their visible daughters.
While this is a fairly simple phishing scam, it is important to note that such scams are constant and users can be tricked into contacting these sellers. The latter usually say that the device is free, but the recipient will need to pay for shipping. Once this fee is paid, the sellers quickly disappear without a trace.
This is not a new scam and has previously appeared under the guise of her son’s death, as Reddit posts show. Reddit users have also revealed other PS5 scam tactics, most of which involve similar attempts to lure users.