In the virtual world, free game coins are sometimes all you want. But... what if you have to give your name and email address in exchange? Then danger lurks around the corner. Because that's exactly where scammers strike.

That is why Febelfin is launching a new, fun campaign, with actors Andy Peelman and Patrick Ridremont as guides in a colourful gaming world. Their mission: to warn young people and their parents about the dangers of online scams via games.

Gaming platforms are now the place where young people relax, but unfortunately also where scammers are active. Through false promises – such as free coins or exclusive items – they try to obtain personal data. And this can have serious consequences.

With this campaign, Febelfin wants to raise awareness among everyone so that they never share personal login details and certainly do not provide any information on unknown or unreliable websites.

The message is clear: talk to young people about online scams. Give them the right tools and information so that they too can arm themselves against digital traps.

Scammers take advantage of the attractiveness of virtual rewards or in-game currencies. They lure young people with promises such as ‘free coins’ or ‘exclusive items’ in exchange for their personal details, such as their name, email address, postal address, etc. What seems harmless can quickly turn into digital theft.

There are two common methods:

• False rewards through surveys

While gaming, young people are asked to complete a short questionnaire in exchange for free coins. But in reality, their data is being collected, sold or misused for phishing.

• Phishing websites that look like real gaming sites

Young people are tempted to log in to a fake gaming website with their gaming account. Afterwards, scammers use that data to access the account, which is later sold on Telegram or the dark web.

On social media such as Discord or Telegram, you can sometimes find groups where you can buy cheap Robux or other game coins. But beware:

• These coins often come from stolen accounts.

• Sometimes it is even a complete scam: you pay, but get nothing in return.

What you thought was a bargain can therefore end up in a lost account or online theft (via phishing).

"My son Ruben had been playing Minecraft for years and had built up a good account. One evening, he was approached via Discord by a so-called friend who promised him VIP status. To get it, he had to give his email address and a code. Not long after, his account was hacked: the password had been changed and he no longer had access. We were able to prevent further damage, but Ruben lost his account and had to buy a new game. It was a painful lesson, but he is now much more alert online," said Ruben's mother.

• 💸 60% van de jongeren die benaderd werden als geldezel, ging effectief op het aanbod in. 

• 📱 7 to 8 years old: the average age at which young people get their first smartphone.

• 😟 20% of young people said they had recently shared information online that made them feel uncomfortable.

• ❓ 23% of young people have never heard of phishing.

• 🔐 23% would share their codes after verification, 5% even without verification.

• 💳 13% would send their bank card if the bank asked them to.

• ❌ Only 4% (NL) and 6% (FR) of young people know exactly what two-step verification entails.

• 😤 29% of young people find extra security measures annoying.

• 🔁 Young people often use the same password for multiple accounts and confuse passwords with PIN codes.

• 💸 60% of young people who were approached as money mules actually accepted the offer.

These figures show that ongoing awareness-raising is crucial. Febelfin calls on parents, teachers and young people to engage in conversation about online safety and conscious digital choices.

‘With this campaign, Febelfin wants to make young people and those around them aware of the risks and arm them against digital scammers. Because no matter how cool your game character is, your real data will always be your most valuable asset,’ says Karel Baert, CEO of Febelfin.

"In the debate about the impact of social media on children and young people, gaming platforms often remain under the radar. More than half of the young people in my workshops say they have been scammed on gaming platforms. From unfair exchanges to phishing with fake coins: the risks are real. Approximately 1 in 10 young people have even lost an account. If we are committed to media literacy and cyber security, we must not lose sight of the world of online games," Mathieu Verschraege, cyber expert.

Banks are available 24/7 to help you. In our flyer, you will find the telephone numbers you can call to have your banking applications blocked immediately.

Follow these steps:

• Call your bank immediately (see numbers in the flyer).

• Gather as much information as possible about the fraud.

• File a complaint with the police and send the complaint report to your bank. You can read what you need to bring with you when filing a report in our flyer