Malwarebytes has warned of a wave of fraudulent websites claiming to offer early access to grand theft car 6 for hundreds of dollars paid in cryptocurrencies.
The official release of the game is scheduled for November 19, 2026. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders will be available starting June 25 through Rockstar Games and various platform stores.
Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes reported finding multiple sites involved in the scam, some of which use the GTA 6 branding along with references to Mr. Beast and Lego in an attempt to appear more legitimate.
How the scam works and why these offers seem convincing
Scam websites claim to offer early access to Grand Theft Auto 6 in exchange for cryptocurrency payments of a few hundred dollars.
In reality, no real access to the game is provided. Since payments are made in cryptocurrency, victims have no easy way to recover funds or initiate chargebacks through their banks.
Malwarebytes’ Stefan Dasic described GTA 6 as “the perfect bait” for these scams. Grand Theft Auto is one of the best-known gaming franchises in the world, with hundreds of millions of copies of previous titles sold.
It’s been 13 years since GTA 5 was released, the hype surrounding GTA 6 makes it an attractive target for scammers exploiting user interest.
The scam depends on several factors. First of all, it attracts those who want to be among the first to access the game. It is also aimed at users familiar with the premium “advanced access” editions, which exist in modern games.
Scam sites often imitate legitimate pages from retailers or publishers, further increasing their credibility. Additionally, they use pressure tactics to provoke impulsive decisions before users have a chance to verify the offer.
Younger users and people less familiar with cryptocurrencies and online game purchases may be especially vulnerable. However, scams are not exclusive to inexperienced users. Dasic noted that even well-informed people can fall victim when their enthusiasm overrides caution.
How to avoid the scam and what to do if you have already paid
Users must follow these guidelines:
- There is currently no early access to GTA 6 available from any source. Rockstar Games has not announced an early access program and any site claiming to offer one is likely a scam.
- Official pre-orders are scheduled to begin on June 25, 2026 and will only be available through Rockstar Games, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and other officially listed retailers.
- Any website that requests payment in cryptocurrency in exchange for early access to a game should be considered suspicious. Legitimate game publishers and retailers do not require crypto payments.
To check any premium edition offers, visit the official Rockstar Games website directly instead of clicking on social media links, search ads, or messaging apps.
Make sure the website domain matches the official publisher’s domain, as slight variations are a common scam tactic.
Users who have already sent cryptocurrency to a scam site should avoid sending further payments, even if the site requests additional funds for what it claims to be verification or delivery purposes.
It is important to report the incident to local authorities and the cryptocurrency exchange used to send the funds. Also, report the scam site to the platforms where it was advertised, such as social media.
Please note that cryptocurrency transactions are generally irreversible, so recovery is unlikely. In the United States, the Internet Crime Reporting Center (IC3) at ic3.gov accepts reports of online scams.
There are similar agencies in other countries. Reporting these incidents helps authorities identify scam patterns, even when individual recovery is not possible.
What’s coming next when GTA 6 pre-orders open
Official pre-orders for GTA 6 will be available starting June 25 through Rockstar Games and various platform stores. Rockstar has yet to announce details on editions, pricing, or pre-order bonuses. Interested consumers should keep an eye on rockstargames.com/VI for the release date for the latest information.
Malwarebytes has not revealed the number of users who have visited the identified scam sites, but Dasic mentioned that the scams are still effective because they manage to fool at least some victims. The number of scam attempts is expected to increase as the November release date approaches.
