How to not be scammed

In this guide, I will explain both how to not be scammed and what to do if you fall prey to a scammer.

Quick Access Links

Account Recovery:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5421-QTFB-3090

Item Recovery:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7623-IOFX-1021

How scammers steal accounts, and how to avoid it

First of all, if someone sends a chat message telling you they're Steam or Valve staff, BE WARNED! They are likely not staff.

If they request ANY information from you about your account, no matter how small the request may seem, DO NOT SEND IT! This can be text or screenshots. Don't send either.

I can't stress this enough do not send any account-related information to anyone. Scammers may say they know something, such as your purchase history, and want you to send it to them so they can "confirm" you own your account, but do NOT send it! This is a blatant scam!

If Steam or Valve needs to tell you something regarding your account, you will have an "Account Alert" and receive an email. Steam and Valve staff will NOT contact you through a chat!



There is a rampant scam going around that is causing a LOT of people lose access to their accounts. DO NOT "VOTE" FOR YOUR FRIEND'S TEAM! Do not visit the website and especially don't sign in to your Steam account. The website is fraudulent and is only tracking your login information to then take over your Steam account. Always make sure websites you're signing in to are official Steam/Valve sites!
Examples: store.steampowered.com and steamcommunity.com are safe.
Something like steamgames.example.something is NOT safe to log into!

Here's an example of what it might look like. The site requires a Steam login for you to "vote" for your friend's team. This is only an information harvesting website that will send the scammer your account credentials.


Another scam is when you get a message that your account will be suspended or banned because someone "accidentally reported you", this is a lie and an attempt on your information. Block them and don't send them anything!


This is not a full list, but here are some things scammers may request from you that you should NEVER send to anyone:

• Account Username (Profile name is okay to share, as that's public, but your account username should not be sent to anyone. This isn't as important as the other items, but it is still something to consider.)
  
• Account Email
  
• Account Password (NEVER EVER SEND THIS TO ANYONE! Steam/Valve employees will NEVER ask for your account password! If someone genuinely asks for it, Block and Report them!)
  
• Account Phone Number
  
• Payment Information (This includes Credit Cards, Bank Transfers, and used Steam Wallet Codes)
  
• 2-Factor Authentication (Steam Guard) Code (If enabled)
  
• Family View Code (If enabled)
  
• Your Purchase History (Scammers can use this as "proof of ownership", and change your account credentials using this information!)
  
• Your Key Activations (It may be possible for scammers to use this information the same way as Purchase History. Better safe than sorry!)
  
• Used CD-Keys
  
• Any other account-specific information (Seriously, if someone can't see information from their end, there's a reason for that. Don't send them anything they can't already see. Remember though; they may lie, saying they know some information, and ask for you to "confirm" it. DO NOT!)

How to recover your account

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5421-QTFB-3090

If you fell prey to one or more of these methods, don't fret too much. There is still hope!

Firstly, DO NOT close your Steam Client.* If it is still open, you can gain some very important information! We will go over this in a bit.

Here is a list of things you can try to recover your account:

• If you can, change your Steam password.
  
• Check the Steam Support page. There are multiple ways to prove ownership.
  
• Change the password on your email. (Yes, I'm talking your email account. Gmail, Yahoo, what-have-you. If your email is compromised, it is very easy for scammers to change your Steam credentials.)
  
• Change your Steam password again after changing your email password.
  
• Tell your friends to report your profile as stolen. (I know, it sounds stupid to report your profile, but this tells Steam that the account is compromised. The more friends that do this, the better. Have them provide as many details as possible. If you have the scammer's email address, have them include it in their report, making it clear that it's the scammer's email.)
  
• If you have Steam's 2-Factor Authentication (Steam Guard) on your phone or tablet and someone successfully changed your account credentials, your device may be compromised! In that case, you should also factory reset your device.

*If your Steam Client is still open:

1. In the top-left of your Steam Client, select "Steam"
   
2. Click "Settings"
   
3. If it's not already selected, click "Account"
   
4. If possible, change your password immediately!
   
5. Also under "Account", check if the "Contact Email" has been changed. If so, write it down. This is the scammers email! Include this in any report sent to Steam.

How to secure your account

1. Secure your email account. New password. Be sure the "recovery email account" has not changed.
   
2. Change your Steam password. Make it complicated, but something you won't forget. Maybe write it on a paper and put that in your safe.
   
3. Confirm that the email address associated with your Steam account is yours.
   
4. Enable Steam's 2-Factor Authentication (Steam Guard) on your phone using Steam's official app, and make sure your phone has a pin/password.

How scammers steal inventory items

This one is tricky. Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Never trade items when you receive nothing in return! Even if it feels like "step 1" in a trade, that trade you made is final! Scammers will not follow through and send what they promised!
  
• Sometimes a trade seems to be going well, but the other user then changes the trade one last time saying something like, "I was just confirming these were the right items". Check every item in the trade before confirming! Check to see that the "quality", "rarity", "stickers", etc are correct. Make sure they didn't add one of your more expensive items, and confirm they didn't replace one of their items with a cheaper version. This can be very subtle, but cost you dearly!
  
• Make sure you are trading with the correct person! Check their profile link again. Ensure the person you were chatting with and the person you're trading with are the same, and link to the same profile!
  
• DO NOT trade items for a promise such as "I will gift you this game after I get these items". This includes promises of CD Keys, Money, and Steam Wallet. Trades are final! Only trade items for items.
  
• Do not use a middleman. Don't send items to someone unless you're getting the same value in return IN THAT SAME TRADE! Middlemen can be working with the scammer to steal your items and never even send anything in return.

Can inventory items be recovered?

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7623-IOFX-1021

No. I'm sorry, but Steam does not recover lost or stolen inventory items. It's worth contacting them in case the scammer is bad at their job, and the items haven't traded hands yet, but don't hold your breath.

In Conclusion

I hope this article has been helpful and you learned some things that will prevent you from the scam that several of my friends have fallen to. Thankfully they were all able to recover their accounts within a day or two, and I hope the same for you!

I really can't stress this point enough. Don't send any personal information to anyone! Not even if they claim to be "staff".

[miko]

I ’m curious how I lost my account.

[☺]

I can't believe people get trade scammed.

[Swanwick]

I wish the skin scamming sites were all pulled down. I was scammed by skinhub and havent seen any of the 'skins' I apparently won. Luckily I only wasted £10!

[Time's End]

I need saving from steam scamming me with these early access titles

[†<CC>< AyyJman14]

@аdvicebanana
Yes, a friend of mine pointed this out. I plan to add it in soon, and I have another friend that may contribute that part. Thanks mentioning it.

[Dr. Bunsen]

After reading this, the only thing that went through my mind was:"Did nobody ever played runescape?"

[Ajay]

How to not get scammend: Stop talking with people in steam. Works for me

[аdvicebanana]

Helpful guide, but I feel that the omission of the quite convincing rampant phishing sites are a jarring oversight.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensiveTrade/comments/a5t6kc/psa_huge_csgo_youtuber_fell_for_the_fake_site/