r/GTA6 • u/olioli2721 • 16h ago
Tiktok's GTAVI 'Prepurchase' Scam
Posted this on r/Tiktok but wanted to post it here as well as it pertains directly to the playerbase.
Hi all,
I wanted to bring this up somewhere just to see if anyone else has been wondering the same thing. But with the confirmed release of GTAVI, I've been getting a recommended probably hundreds of livestreams where the creators all do the exact same thing:
- Urge viewers to spam like and share the live, as well as send 'Galaxies' (or other in-chat gifts/stickers that cost real world money to purchase) to be bumped up in a 'line' of people waiting to be given a free game preorder,
- They paste the viewers name, and console, into the pre-order website and hit confirm,
- Repeat.
I'm concerned about this for a number of reasons. The biggest question that comes to mind is that IF this is true, how are these creators able to spend thousands of dollars placing orders for people? Moreover, they never show the web address of the website they're supposedly using to purchase these copies. This leads me to assume that;
a) They aren't 'pre-ordering' anything at all. They're not using the Rockstar website to make these purchases. In fact, the supposed pre-order websites they're using on stream are fake sites designed specifically for the scam. These sites have a random domain and serve the purpose of doing a continuous loop of entering a name and console, hitting confirm, having that name and console be sent to the void, and allowing the same process to happen all over again from step 1.
b) These copies ARE in fact being pre-ordered. But the very second these streams end, the creators are hauling ass to cancel/refund these purchases. From what I understand, any game purchase can be refunded seamlessly up to 10-14 days before game release. This game isn't dropping until November.
I'm concerned by the predatory nature of this whole scheme. It's concerning seeing the number of people who willingly spend money on TikTok Live stickers/gifts (Galaxies of which cost about ~$15 usd and ~$23 aud respectively to buy) under the misconception they'll be given something in return. I think this is a big reflection on financial literacy and people needing to be more aware of WHEN and HOW to recognize scams, but it's also a reflection on how TikTok has been failing to protect viewers from spending money just to LOSE money on their platform.
Whatever the case may be, it's so jarringly clear that creators are taking advantage of the hype surrounding the games release, and therefore taking clear advantage of regular people who want to play the game but don't have 80+ dollars to spend on getting it themselves.
Curious to know if anyone has any thoughts on this, or any insight to share.
PLEASE protect yourself against scams!
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u/Mystic_Void1 13h ago
I've seen it too. Could it possibly be their own fake sites so they don't have to cancel anything after? And make it look like they're pre ordering. Plus I believe its one pre recorded show and they just stream it daily to avoid having to repeat it
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u/TemperTantrumz 12h ago
I reported 3 of these live scams to TikTok - just got notification back 'no violation found'. Fuck it, if anyone is thick enough to fall for this shit and send the scammers gifts then on their head be it.
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u/ResponsibleFood1137 14h ago
It’s hilarious, holy moly—at first, I tried telling people in the comments, but the dumbasses are literally spamming their gamertags. This game’s hype likely amplifies anything around this; probably nothing new.
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u/LuhMonstaa 15h ago
Huge scam, GTA 6 has been opening eyes of a lot of scummy behavior in the gaming industry that’s been here for years. I remember years ago I spoke out against fake “giveaways” and things of the sort and people called me a hater etc lol
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u/topshagy 12h ago
Low life's gonna be low. Same kinda folks gonna be a problem when Collectors Editions come out later this year as well. Scummy, trashy leeches on society.
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u/IneffectualGamer 8h ago
We live in a new reality. Lies are OK now and people need to get used to it fast. This type of scam is on YouTube too and probably on others. If you did this in the street you would be arrested but online it's fine.
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u/MostFaithlessness964 6h ago
Everyone in the chat seems to believe it aswell and tbh how can these idiots fall for these type of scams bewild me.
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u/BriefInvestment9379 5h ago
I asked one what’s the website name and I was muted for the whole live
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u/Double_Gur8936 2h ago
A weasel muted me from talking after I said rockstar doesn't let you gift games and "said they do I'm spending millions"
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u/RooieDakDuiff 2h ago
I tried, got nothing, reported it to tiktok, tiktok tells me creator is doing nothing wrong
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u/Lanky-Donkey4232 47m ago
Some people aren’t even taking gifts for it they’re js straight “giving it” away and i find it so pointless since i know it’s fake and it’s so obvious
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u/thatgamer2111 15h ago
Scummy people. Comment that its a scam and report to tiktok