Pop-up ads are annoying; in-game ads are no better, but when in-game ads are pop-up ads, the can create a lot of mischief. Last week a Chinese gamer in Sichuan province was scammed by a pop-up ad within a popular online racing game.
The victim, surnamed Li, works in the garment industry in a small town in Sichuan. According to the article by Southern Daily, Li spends his down time playing the popular online kart racing game, QQ Kart Racing. On the evening of May 5, Li logged onto QQ Kart Racing and proceed to getting his game on. During that time, he was hit with a very legitimate looking pop-up that looked it was part of the game. The message on the pop-up read that Li had won second place in a random internet contest.
Ecstatic that he won something Li clicked the pop-up it bought him to an “official” looking website where he filled out a form with his personal information. After submitting the form, Li was informed by the website that he had won an iPhone 4s valued at $US9437, but in order to receive his prize he needed put up mail insurance and taxes.
At this point, Li didn’t feel that anything was fishy. It’s common to pay taxes on prizes with monetary values in China (I’ve had my own award money taxed). He proceeded call customer service to find out exactly how much money he needed to front up before he could receive his new iPhone — he needed to front up $US704.
Only able to come up with $US244, Li called the company. He was informed that if he didn’t pay up in time, he would lose his prize. Unable to come up with all that cash, Li turned to borrowing money from family. According to the article, when Li’s uncle learned why Li needed the money he immediately took him to the nearest public security bureau. Li had been scammed.
It’s unknown if Li will ever get his money back or if the company running the scam will get in any trouble but I can’t really fault Li for his naiveté. How was he to know an iPhone 4s doesn’t cause $US9000?
[玩网游中“大奖” 先交保险和税费] [People’s Daily]
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Comments
5 responses to “In Game Pop-up Scam’s Chinese Gamer”
probably good to fix this spelling mistake: “an iPhone 4s doesn’t cause $US9000”
*cost
#correction
How was he to know an iPhone 4s doesn’t cause $US9000?
‘I can’t really fault Li for his naiveté. How was he to know an iPhone 4s doesn’t cause $US9000?’ – Surely he could have looked up pricing, looked up the company or have done some sort of research into it. People should always be sceptical, especially online. So I don’t really feel bad for him, no offence.
Generally I think it’s safe to assume that unless you’ve actually entered a contest there isn’t a chance of winning one. I mean there might be a very very very very very small chance you’ll miss out at some point, but I think sticking to the assumption that unless you enter something you can’t win it is a pretty safe bet 😛
Exactly. I only give money to princes in Nigeria.
this is the oldest trick in the book what a complete moron