Fake giveaways and impersonated streamers

Checking a giveaway against the creator's real channels

Before you engage, open the creator's profile yourself by searching for them, not by tapping the name in the message. Compare:

• the exact handle, character by character;
• follower count and account age;
• whether the giveaway is mentioned in their own posts, stream panels or pinned content;
• whether winners are announced publicly with clear rules.

If the giveaway only exists in the message you received, it is not real.

Lookalike handles are common because display names on most platforms do not need to be unique. A scam account might use the same display name and picture as the creator, with a different underlying username that only shows when you open the profile. Some swap a lower-case 'l' for a capital 'I', or add a full stop or underscore.

Also check where the message reached you. Creators with large audiences rarely message individual winners first through direct messages from an account you do not follow, and they will not ask you to switch apps.

Fake live streams and 'double your currency' offers

Some scams use re-uploaded footage of a well-known streamer, presented as a live broadcast, with a banner promising to double any currency or items you send. Others show a QR code on screen. The chat is often filled with bot accounts saying they received their prize.

Nobody legitimately doubles what you send them. A QR code in a stream may be a login QR code that signs the scammer into your account. Report the stream on the platform and leave.

If you spot one of these streams, report it rather than commenting a warning with a link, so you do not add to the confusion in the chat.

Why the scam asks you to move to another app

Impersonators often ask winners to message them on a different app or join a private server. That removes you from the public platform where others might warn you, and where the scammer's account could be reported quickly.

Once you are in a private chat, the next steps are usually a fee, a request for personal details, or a link to a fake login page. Real creators run giveaways through public tools and channels they control.

Prize fees and personal details

Being asked to pay to receive a prize is one of the most common signs of fraud. So is asking for more personal information than is needed, such as date of birth, a copy of an ID or bank details.

If you paid by card, contact your bank promptly. The UK government's Stop! Think Fraud campaign lists 159 as a number that connects you safely to many UK banks. Report the loss to Report Fraud, or Police Scotland on 101 if you live in Scotland. Scam adverts promoting giveaways can be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Some fake prizes are physical items, like a console or a controller, with a request for a 'customs' or 'courier' fee. Others ask for your full name, address and date of birth to 'ship' the prize. That information can be used for identity fraud or more convincing phishing later, so treat requests for it with the same caution as requests for money. If you have already shared personal details, be extra alert to unexpected messages, calls and post over the coming weeks.

Advice for creators whose names are copied

If you stream or post videos, impersonators may target your audience. Some practical steps:

• Post a pinned note explaining how your real giveaways work and that you never ask for passwords or fees.
• Use the platform's impersonation report form for copycat accounts.
• Ask moderators to remove links and block common lookalike names in chat filters.
• Secure your own accounts with 2-step verification so your real channel cannot be hijacked.

Our guide on fake support agents covers the related trick of scammers posing as platform staff.

Encourage your community to report lookalike accounts too, since platforms often act faster on several reports.

What a genuine giveaway usually looks like

Real giveaways run by creators, teams and publishers tend to share some features, which makes the fakes easier to spot by comparison:

• They are announced publicly on the organiser's own verified channel, with dates and rules.
• Entry happens through a visible method: a comment, a follow, a form on the organiser's own website, or the platform's built-in giveaway tool.
• Winners are announced publicly or contacted through the same official channel.
• Digital prizes are delivered as gifts or codes redeemed inside the official store.
• Nobody asks for a password, a QR scan, a payment or a copy of your ID to claim.

If you are a parent, it is worth explaining to children that a 'you've won' message from an account they do not follow is almost always fake. Our parents' guide explains how to limit messages from strangers on each platform.