Hey everyone! In this guide, I’m gonna break down the different types of scam happening on our beloved Steam platform.

The guide’s pretty detailed, so stay patient and pay attention while reading.
If I missed something or explained it wrong, feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments—I’ll gladly update the guide.

Remember the #1 rule: Trust NO ONE. Ever.

How the scam works:

• Scammers send links that look like legit Steam sites or popular marketplaces (no examples here—Steam censors them).
  
• URLs might have tiny mistakes that are hard to spot:
  
• Example: steamcornmunity.com instead of steamproxy.net, or using similar characters (ѕteamcommunity.com where the “s” is swapped with a Cyrillic “ѕ”).
  
• Once you click, they ask for your login details—those go straight to the scammers.

Common scenarios:

• "Hey, you won a skin/game! Claim your prize here!"
  
• "Urgent trade needed! Here’s the trade link!"
  
• "Vote for my team in this tournament!" (often from fake friend accounts).

How to stay safe:

1. Always double-check the URL—look closely at the site address.
   
2. Don’t click links from sketchy messages.
   
3. Use two-factor authentication (Steam Guard).
   
4. Check for an SSL certificate—the little lock icon isn’t a 100% guarantee, but no lock = big risk.

How the scam works:

• Scammers create “legit-looking” giveaways on social media, Discord, forums, etc.
  
• They’ll claim you’ve won a cool prize, but to claim it, you need to:
  
• Log in through a fake site with your Steam account.
  
• Pay a “small fee” for processing.
  
• Share your account info.

Common scenarios:

• "Congrats! You’ve won a knife in CS2!"
  
• "Limited offer: Get a free game right now!"
  
• Fake bots or accounts loaded with fake followers.

How to stay safe:

1. Check the source of any giveaway—only trust reputable organizers.
   
2. Never enter personal info on shady sites.
   
3. Be suspicious of “free” stuff—real companies don’t ask for your password to give you a prize.

Popular scam types:

1. Item Switch:

• Scammer offers an amazing trade deal.
  
• Last second, they swap out the valuable item for a cheap lookalike.
  
• They rely on visual tricks, hoping you won’t notice.

2. “Middleman” Scam:

• A third person acts as a “trusted middleman.”
  
• Either it’s a fake account or a hacked friend.

3. Trust-Building Scam:

• Starts with small, honest trades to gain your trust.
  
• Then they suggest a big trade—and disappear with your stuff.

4. API Key Exploit:

• If a scammer gets your API Key, they can remotely manage trades without you even knowing.

How to stay safe:

1. Double-check trade details before confirming.
   
2. Don’t trust middlemen unless you personally know them.
   
3. Use Steam’s built-in trading features only.
   
4. Enable mobile confirmations for trades.

How the scam works:
Scammers offer programs that claim to:

• Automate trades.
  
• “Boost your chances” of winning.
  
• Get “free” items.

Installing this software can infect your system with viruses or keyloggers.
Browser extensions might steal your cookies and session tokens.

How to stay safe:

1. Only download software from official sources.
   
2. Avoid third-party extensions for Steam inventory management.
   
3. Regularly review your installed extensions.
   
4. Use antivirus software and enable anti-phishing features in your browser.

How the scam works:

• Scammers might hack your friend’s account and message you pretending to be them.
  
• They’ll ask to “borrow a skin,” “help with a trade,” or “check out this site.”
  
• Some pretend to be Steam support staff.

Common scenarios:

• "Hey, I accidentally sent you a trade. Can you send it back?"
  
• "Need help with a trade. You trust me, right?"
  
• "Your account violated rules. We need to inspect your items."

How to stay safe:

1. Confirm suspicious requests through other channels.
   
2. Steam support will NEVER ask for your password or to “check” your items.
   
3. Don’t rush—scammers create urgency to stop you from thinking clearly.

How the scam works:

1. Fake Payments:

• They’ll claim they’ve sent you money for an item, showing a fake receipt.
  
• They’ll ask you to send the item “first” and promise to pay after.

2. Refund Scam:

• After buying an item via a third-party platform, the scammer requests a refund through PayPal or their bank.
  
• You lose both the item and the money.

How to stay safe:

1. Only trade through official marketplaces (Steam Market, Skinport, etc.).
   
2. Don’t trust screenshots as proof of payment.
   
3. Never send items without receiving payment first.

• Enable Steam Guard (two-factor authentication).
  
• Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
  
• Check active sessions and login history often.
  
• Keep your antivirus software up to date.
  
• Never share your account info—not even with “friends” or “support staff.”

A lot of time and effort went into making this guide. If you found it helpful, show some love with a like, add it to your favorites, or drop a Steam award!

This guide was created to help protect everyday users from scammers.

Author - Dwynn

Remember the golden rule! Trust no one, don’t click on sketchy links, and never download programs from unverified sources!