Grand Theft Auto VI fans need to be wary of fake beta download ads circulating on social media. These scams exploit the excitement surrounding Rockstar Games' announcement of GTA VI's release in Autumn 2025 for PS5 and Xbox Series. Researchers at Bitdefender have identified suspicious Facebook ads promoting free downloads of a non-existent GTA VI beta for PC. These ads target users following GTA content, promising early access and showcasing convincing gameplay footage likely stolen from Rockstar’s 2022 data breach. Between July 16 and 18, Bitdefender discovered a Facebook page running three sponsored ads that falsely offered free access to a GTA VI beta for the first 100 people. These ads specifically targeted users aged 18-65 across Europe, including in countries such as France, Poland, Romania, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The malicious domain associated with these ads registered on June 27, 2024, was also linked to an Ethereum scam. ? Security researcher Andrei Mogage found that the MSI file downloaded from these ads mimicked a legitimate GTA VI installer but contained malware similar to the FakeBat loader, deploying malicious payloads and PowerShell scripts to download additional malware like info-stealers and remote access Trojans (RATs). Users clicking the ads are directed to a fake download page, where they are prompted to download an ‘exclusive beta client’ or complete a survey, both of which deliver malware instead of a game. As of July 19, these specific malicious ads have been removed. However, Facebook’s history of approving malicious ads indicates that similar threats may still exist. Previous incidents include investment scams and malware spread through AI-generated ads. To protect yourself, Grand Theft Auto VI fans should avoid sponsored social media ads and download games only from official sources such as the developer’s website or reputable retailers. Since Rockstar Games has not announced any beta program for GTA VI, claims of beta access are fraudulent. Stay alert for unrealistic offers, poor grammar, and urgent download requests, as these are common indicators of fake gaming-related ads.
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