How to Avoid Scams When Buying Cheats in 2026

The cheat market is poorly regulated, making it an ideal environment for scammers. By various estimates, 30-50% of public offers are scams: viruses, fake sellers, Steam/Discord account theft or just empty archives. This guide covers specific fraud schemes and how to recognize them.

Scheme 1: free cheat = virus

The most common variant. A 'free cheat' on YouTube or a forum is a RAT (Remote Access Trojan), password stealer or cryptominer. The file runs, nothing happens (or a fake interface appears), while passwords, browser cookies and card data are stolen in the background.

• Requires disabling antivirus before launch — 100% virus.
• Archive is password-protected 'so antivirus doesn't complain' — 100% virus.
• File weighs 2-5 MB for a 'full cheat' — suspicious, real software weighs more.
• Link goes to mediafire / mega / dropbox instead of an official site.

Scheme 2: fake seller

A scammer creates a Telegram channel or Discord server, copies the design and descriptions of a real seller, uses a similar name and starts selling 'keys'. After payment you receive nothing, a virus file, or an old detected key.

• Channel created recently (less than 3 months).
• Few subscribers or inflated (bots without avatars).
• No verification or link from the product's official site.
• Accept only cryptocurrency or transfer to a personal card.
• Promise 50-80% discount on known products.

Scheme 3: account theft through 'activation'

The seller asks to 'log in through Steam/Discord to verify the license'. The link leads to a phishing site, visually identical to the real one. You enter your login and password — and lose your account.

How to verify a seller

There are several checks you can do in 5 minutes that filter out 90% of scammers:

• Check channel/server age — more than 6 months is a good sign.
• Look at message history — real discussions or just ads?
• Try writing to support before buying — do they respond?
• Search for reviews on independent forums (unknowncheats, etc.).
• Check if there's an official site with history and contacts.
• Payment methods: multiple options (card, crypto, PayPal) — a good sign.

What to do if you've been scammed

If you've already paid and realized it's a scam:

• Don't run received files — they may contain viruses.
• Change passwords on Steam, Discord and email right now.
• Enable two-factor authentication everywhere.
• Scan your PC with antivirus (Malwarebytes, Kaspersky free).
• If you paid by card — contact your bank for a chargeback.
• Report the scammer to Telegram/Discord moderation.

Safe buying: step-by-step process

• Find the product through a catalog with reviews and statuses.
• Check the current status (Undetected).
• Write to support before buying, ask about compatibility.
• Pay through a secure method (not transfer to personal card).
• Download software only from the official source.
• Install following instructions, without fully disabling antivirus.
• Start with the minimum subscription term (day/week).

FAQ: safety when buying cheats

Are all free cheats viruses?

Not all, but the vast majority. There are open-source projects on public forums, but they're usually quickly detected. Safe free cheats are extremely rare.

How to tell a fake channel from a real one?

Check the channel link on the product's official website. If the site doesn't link to that channel — it's fake. Also check the channel age, post history and reactions from real users.

Can I get money back after a scam?

If you paid by card — contact your bank for a chargeback within 24-48 hours. If by cryptocurrency — chances are almost zero. That's why first purchases are better made by card through payment systems with buyer protection.

Does Big Project verify sellers?

Yes. All products in the catalog go through moderation. We check detection status, support availability and seller history. Products with detected status are marked accordingly.

See also