GTA VI is one of the most anticipated unreleased games today, making it an efficient vector for scammers who target gaming enthusiasts.
Grand Theft Auto is a household name in gaming, and Rockstar Games, the developer behind GTA, has announced the release of GTA VI in Autumn 2025 for PS5 and Xbox Series, which has piqued fans’ interest.
Based on reports, this game’s popularity and demand have given threat actors an ideal opportunity to exploit followers. A recent discovery stated that a campaign using fraudulent Facebook advertising currently promotes fake beta versions of the game for free download on PC.
Social media users, especially those who follow GTA content, are more likely to encounter sponsored advertisements offering early access to a non-existent GTA VI beta. These advertisements typically highlight special features, early release dates, and even convincing-looking gameplay footage.
The fake GTA VI beta version was initially discovered earlier this month.
Researchers discovered a Facebook page that advertised free access to the GTA VI beta edition on July 16 and 18. The campaign added a sense of urgency to be effective since it included a promo to the alleged “first 100” who would download the game straight from the sponsored adverts.
Moreover, the page operates three distinct ads, all with the same message and imagery, targeting persons aged 18 to 65. The fraudulent website used by the scammers in the advertisement was registered last month and hosted another Ethereum scam.
The initial assessment of the campaign also confirmed that the targeted users are primarily in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Furthermore, the MSI file obtained via the Facebook ad impersonated a legitimate GTA VI installer and replicated the installation procedure. Researchers noted that the campaign is similar to the FakeBat loader malware operation, which used malicious payloads and PowerShell scripts to download more advanced malware, such as information stealers and RATs.
Once a user clicks the ad, they are redirected to a website that appears like an actual download page. To acquire access, a user may be required to download a ‘special beta client’ or complete a survey. However, these downloads are not beta versions but rather malware-laden payloads.
Therefore, GTA fans, especially from earlier-mentioned countries, should be wary of these scams as threat actors are capitalising on the game’s popularity. Gamers should remember that Rockstar Games has yet to announce a beta program for GTA VI; hence, refrain from downloading such files to avoid falling victim to such scams.
