Trend Micro Warns of Online Gaming Threat Posed by Scammers, Phishers and Griefers

Cybercriminals are targeting child-focused gaming websites to scam players out of their money and personal information

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 16, 2012 – Modern gaming platforms such as Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 feature advanced functionality allowing users to message each other while they play, create avatars and even buy virtual goods online. A recent Trend Micro Digital Joneses survey found that 41 percent of homes with kids five and under have internet connected game consoles and that more kids access the internet through game consoles than through a computer. Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cloud security leader, has put together a quick tip list to help parents make sure their children stay entertained without being exposed to inappropriate material, getting bullied or targeted for abuse, downloading a virus, or spending an exorbitant amount of money on games.

A study released by Pearl Research indicated that the growth in online games which include MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), casual, social and Web games, grew 32 percent last year. Moreover, Ovum forecasts revealed that the wider digital games market for Asia-Pacific would more than double over the next four years to reach US$30.3 billion in 2016 and the number of online unique gamers is set to break the 1 billion mark by 20161. Also, statistics show that 58 percent of Filipino kids play online games daily; 26 percent of South Korean teen gamers are said to be “addicted” to the Internet; and more than 70 percent of Chinese children go online before the age of 10, mostly to play games or to use social media2.

“The world of online gaming is full of danger. Tricksters, scammers are everywhere, waiting around to target children in MMORPGs, casual, social and Web games,” said Myla Pilao, director of marketing communications at TrendLabs.  “Cybercriminals are known to use MMORPGs to carry out their malicious activities. They’re inside and out of the game, seeking to hoodwink other players out of their personal details, their cash and their hard-earned loot.”

Most of the threats to online gaming involve malware. An example is a malicious file disguised as downloadable cheats or game hacks. Here, we will focus on the certain threat actors that wreak in-game havoc.

Scammers: Malicious players who trick potential victims during a transaction by offering lucrative deals or bonuses. Victims usually end up being tricked out of their money during the transaction.

Phishers: Malicious players who trick potential victims into giving them their account information. They often tempt the player with free items and may even threaten players with account deletion to convince them to cooperate.


Griefers: These are malicious players who harass other gamers. Griefers do this through actions and dialogue that could be considered as inappropriate or disruptive behavior. Cyber bullying can also be considered an act of griefing. In fact, 63 percent of teens who play games report seeing or hearing people being mean and overly agressive1.

Here are some tips to help parents easily defend and guard their children from these threats:

Stay Involved: Keeping your gaming console in a common area of your home is a great way for the whole family to enjoy it. Also, it gives parents an idea of how much time their kids are spending using it and what types of games they are playing without having to be invasive.

Rely on Ratings: The Entertainment Software Rating Board rates games at ESRB.org that can give you a rough idea of the type content it contains. Another great source of information about games can be found on the Common Sense Media website (commensensemedia.org).

Use Parental Controls: Your gaming console has parental controls so that you can block kids from accessing games that are not age-appropriate. You can also set limits on how much time they spend gaming and who they play with. Most gaming devices will also let you pre-approve friend requests to play online and disable Internet access.

Differentiate Private vs. Public Information: Talk to your kids about what’s appropriate information to be publicly shared. Your child should NOT be sharing information like your home address or the name of their school. Similarly, their screen name should NOT reveal their age, gender, or location.

Teach Kids the Right Way to Deal with Bullies: If your child is being harassed online, be sure he or she knows how to deal with it. Often players can block harassers or report them to the game’s publisher. If you suspect your child is legitimately threatened (by cyberbullies or by online predators), call your local police.
Set Budgets: Create one budget for online spending and second for screen time. It’s very easy to download gaming apps from the App Store or Google Play, so check your iTunes account or mobile phone bill often to make sure your child isn’t spending too much.

Embrace Technology: The same antivirus and antispyware software that keeps you safe elsewhere on the web can make sure your gaming experience is a safe one, too. The best way to approach this is to think of online gaming in the same light as Facebook and other social media outlets.

More information on Internet Safety for Kids and Families: http://www.trendmicro.com/us/about-us/global-citizenship/internet-safety-kids-families/index.html