PS5 Scalpers Continue To Scam People For A New Console

Scammers worldwide are still very active online and are tricking a ton of people into sending money in exchange for a PlayStation 5, only to give them nothing in return.

It’s no surprise that the launch of Microsoft and Sony’s newest consoles was the biggest and most successful to date. In fact, it was so big that even the launch of PS4 and the Xbox One would look smaller in comparison.

I mean, it’s honestly understandable with how the gaming spectrum is at its peak right now, with more and more people joining in due to the ongoing pandemic or whatever other reason there may be.

That said, there seems to have been a considerable shortage of consoles worldwide, with the worst part being that this shortage is all set to continue into 2021, something that genuinely sucks for all of us that couldn’t get our hands on a shiny new console this holiday.

Because of everything that’s been going on, many people have resorted to extreme measures to get a new console, such as how queues of people were waiting for GameStop to open almost 24 hours before it was supposed to.

Well, at least some could get themselves a console by utilizing this method. 

But when it comes to buying the console online, you’re probably better off not even considering the option because, in all likelihood, scalpers will get their hands on the consoles way before you do.

If you need an example of this, just take a look at that UK-based group that recently claimed to have bought almost 3500 PS5s, and you see that’s the main problem.

These scalpers are acquiring the PS5s and then selling them off at a very high price than the market price, with some basically ghosting the buyers as well.

Even on eBay a couple of days ago, reports came of PS5s being sold on the site, only for them to turn out to be photos of the PS5. Like, what? I mean, imagine this, you’ve paid the full price of the console and are thinking to yourself, “Phew! Finally got myself a PS5 after so much of struggle!” only for a photo to arrive at your doorstep. That’s a big OOF moment right there.

But even those people are lucky to have received at least a photo of the console, for many buyers were asked by scalpers to send money to receive a new PS5, only for the buyers to be entirely ghosted by the scammers.

An example of this comes from a user on Resetera, where a scammer convinced them to send $533 on Paypal using friends and family option for a PlayStation 5, only to receive nothing in return and their money vanishing into thin air since they approved the bank transfer.

That said, I’d personally suggest everyone wait for a little more time until the consoles’ shortage is lessened, and the consoles are available at authorized retailers, as trusting a stranger on the internet can prove to be way worse.