Medium riskGaming

Game Boosting Scam

In this scam, a 'boosting' service offers to raise your rank or complete challenges for a fee or your login, then takes payment and disappears, or hijacks the account and its items.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Advance-fee / account theft (gaming)
Main red flag
A boosting service wanting payment upfront or your account login.
What to do first
Avoid boosting services; never pay upfront or share your login.

What to know first

In this scam, a 'boosting' service offers to raise your rank or complete challenges for a fee or your login, then takes payment and disappears, or hijacks the account and its items.

Gaming and in-app scams target players with fake currency generators, account trading and phishing, rigged item trades, and malicious mods. They aim at accounts, in-game items, and payment details, and often hit younger users hardest.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: A boosting service wanting payment upfront or your account login. Avoid boosting services; never pay upfront or share your login.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Game Account Trading Scam and the Game Currency Generator Scam. For the wider picture, browse the Gaming & In-App Scams guides or run the message through our scam checker.

Scam statistics

Accounts & items
the core targets of gaming scams, logins, inventories, and linked payment methods
Source: FTC Consumer Advice
$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that started on social media in 2023, where many gaming scams spread
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Tell-tale red flags

  • A request for upfront payment or your login
  • Guaranteed ranks or rewards
  • A service you cannot verify
  • Pressure to pay quickly
  • Risk of a ban for using boosting

Staying safe

  • Avoid boosting services that want upfront payment or your login
  • Be aware boosting can breach rules and risk a ban
  • Never share your account credentials
  • Report scam boosting offers

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Rank boost guaranteed! Pay upfront and share your login and we'll grind your account to the top.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What to notice: A boosting service wanting payment upfront or your account login.

Steps if you already acted

  • If you paid, contact your payment provider to dispute it
  • If you shared your login, change it and secure the account
  • Check for stolen items and report it
  • Warn others

Common mistakes

  • Do not pay boosting services upfront
  • Do not share your login for a 'boost'
  • Do not trust guaranteed-rank promises

Scams like this one

Medium risk Gaming

Game Account Trading Scam

In this scam, buyers, sellers, or traders of game accounts and items take payment or the account, then disappear, reclaim the account, or hijack it, since trading usually breaks the game's rules and offers no protection.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Gaming

Game Currency Generator Scam

In this scam, a website or video promises free in-game currency, coins, or gems from a 'generator', but it steals your login, pushes endless surveys, or installs malware, and never delivers anything.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Gaming

Steam & Discord Phishing Scam

In this scam, DMs and links on Steam, Discord, or game chats lead to fake login pages or trade offers, often claiming you have been reported, won an item, or need to vote, to steal your account and items.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

Is game boosting safe?
It is risky. Boosting can breach the game's rules and risk a ban, and services that want upfront payment or your login often take both and deliver nothing.
They want my login to boost. Safe?
No. Sharing your login risks account and item theft. Never give your credentials to a boosting service.
I paid and got nothing. What now?
Contact your payment provider to dispute it, secure your account if you shared a login, check for stolen items, and report it.
How do I rank up safely?
Play the game yourself; avoid services that breach rules and put your account at risk.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.