Too Good to Be True: The Steam Gift Card Scam Spreading on Discord

Discord may be a popular platform for gaming communities and social chats, but it has also become a favorite hunting ground for scammers. A growing number of users are falling victim to the Steam gift card scam, where fake messages promising freebies are actually phishing traps designed to steal their account or infect their device.

The Steam gift card scam has become especially common on Discord, where scammers take advantage of the platform’s casual tone, large gaming communities, and easy direct messaging. One click is often all it takes to compromise your account.

Scam Detectors Most Trusted Websites in Online Security

Guard.io (100): Protect your digital world on any device – Guardio stops scams and phishing in their tracks.
Incogni.com (100): Delete your personal data from the internet and protect against scams and identity theft.
ExpressVPN (100) Stay secure and anonymous online - Best VPN Out There

What Is the Steam Gift Card Scam?

The Steam gift card scam begins with a message. It usually comes from someone you know or at least someone who looks like a real user. The message says something like:

“I just got a free Steam gift card, and you can too. Click this link to claim yours!”

Sometimes the message includes emojis, a fake screenshot of a balance, or a comment like “It really works!” to make it more convincing. If you click the link, though, it leads to a phishing site that looks just like Steam. Once you enter your login info, scammers have everything they need to hijack your account.

In other cases, clicking the link installs malware, such as a browser hijacker or info-stealer, that collects data without your knowledge.

Why It Works

The Steam gift card scam is effective because it plays on two things: trust and temptation. If the message comes from someone on your friend list, you’re more likely to click and the idea of a free reward is hard to resist, especially for younger users.

Scammers often hijack one account, then use it to message dozens of others, rapidly spreading the scam. The moment someone enters their credentials, the cycle repeats.

Signs of a Steam Gift Card Scam

You receive a message promoting free Steam gift cards out of nowhere.
The link leads to a site that asks you to log into Steam.
The URL is slightly off (e.g., steamfreerewards.com instead of steampowered.com).
The sender’s message seems unusually excited or generic.
The offer includes a countdown timer or mentions it’s available for a “limited time only.”

How to Stay Safe on Discord

Never click links in messages promising free gift cards, especially from unknown users.
If a friend sends a suspicious message, verify with them on another platform.
Always check the full URL before logging in to any site that looks like Steam.
Use two-factor authentication on your Steam and Discord accounts.
Run an antivirus scan if you accidentally click on a suspicious link.

What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed

Immediately change your Steam and Discord passwords.
Enable two-factor authentication if you haven’t already.
Contact Steam Support to report a compromised account.
Run a full malware scan on your device.
Warn your Discord contacts not to click the link if your account was hijacked.

Final Thoughts

The Steam gift card scam is a classic case of “too good to be true.” If someone on Discord suddenly offers you free rewards, take a minute to consider the offer. Even if it looks real and appears to come from a friend, treat every unsolicited message with caution. Scammers are counting on you to click without thinking. Don’t give them the satisfaction.

Verify Another website

Are you just about to make a purchase online? See if the website is legit with our validator:

vldtr^®