Common Roblox Scams and How to Avoid Them

Roblox is a platform that allows users to create and play games of various genres, including platformers, role-playing games, and virtual worlds. It is not a single game but a universe populated by young people, with the largest demographic group being 9 to 12-year-olds. Users can create their games using Roblox Studio, with tutorials and resources to help them get started. To create more complex games, users must learn Lua, a scripting language that is pretty easy to understand.

One of the main concerns of parents is the safety of their children on the platform, but Roblox has a chat window that filters messages automatically to remove personal information. Parents can turn off the chat window entirely for children younger than 13. Additionally, Roblox has its currency called Robux, which users can use to create avatars and rent and furnish houses. However, there have been controversies about the platform's business model and the potential financial exploitation of children. 

You can get Robux by playing the game or buying them with real-world money. Roblox can be a fun and engaging platform for gamers and game creators, but it is crucial to take safety precautions and be aware of potential risks. However, with the proper safeguards, Roblox can be an enjoyable experience for all ages.

I came to this idea about writing this after my nephew chose to spend all of his Easter money on Robux. I was, and to some degree still am, terrified he might lose all the money we gave him to a scammer, so I decided to make this short guide on the most common scams in Roblox.

Who Makes the Roblox Scams, and What is Their Goal?

No one person is committing Roblox scams. But they all share a common goal: to steal your money, virtual currency, your tradable characters, or your child's personal information. They will use any means necessary to earn yours or your kid's trust and use it for their nefarious purposes. Unfortunately, there are many Roblox scams so we will list the major ones. 

1. Asking for Your HAR File

This is when scammers ask for files from your computer, mainly the file that contains your browser cookies and the security code for your ROBLOX account. And how do they do that? Well, some will ask for help with their audio, some ask for help exporting their character, and some might ask for your model clothes. Some may even ask your kid to join a Discord server under the guise of getting free stuff. Protecting yourself, in this case, is easy. Never give any files from your browser to anyone. If a scammer is asking for the HAR file in particular, know that your kid is getting scammed and they should ask for an adult immediately.

2. Contacting You About Problems With Your Account

Some call this the fast-track reporting program scam, as your kid will usually get contacted by someone "from the program." They will usually say there are problems with your according and will try their best to get your kid into Discord. They will try to get your kid's login information when they get them in there. Protecting yourself, in this case, is to remind your kid that official Roblox support will never invite them into a Discord server. Account-related issues are usually done by Email. That said...

3. The Email Roblox Scam 

There are two ways this scam usually goes down. The first way someone may contact your kid is through Discord or the Roblox PM system. Then they will start a video chat to ask your kid to reset their account email and ask them for the reset link. By doing so, they will get your one-time passcode that they can use to reset the account by themselves. The second way they do it is when a scammer attempts to email you the fake Roblox reset password themselves. The link in the Email will get you to a fake Roblox site (these often look very real) where you will give them the login info. Protecting yourself here is pretty straightforward. Remember, any official Roblox email has roblox.com in its email address and nothing else—for example support@roblox.com and not support@sroblox.com.

4. The Free Robux Scam 

Scammers have developed a way to stream fraudulent free Robux offers on sites like Twitch and YouTube. After promising to give out free Robux, they will ask you to provide your chat handle. These broadcasts however, are bogus and the con artists are simply playing looped recordings. You will see that the stream loops if you keep an eye on it for long enough. Avoid clicking on any links from unknown sources to protect yourself from these nasty scammers, and under no circumstances give them access to your personal information.

5. The Trade Scam 

This is a scam that is old as Roblox itself. It is simple enough. Scammers will ask you to trade your favourite item with them at a low market price. However, once the trade is done they just vanish leaving your kid with nothing. You can avoid getting scammed this way when you deal with verified and reliable traders only. Only trade with people you trust.

6. The Fake Game Scam 

In-game phishing scams usually involve a fake game promoting free Robux or some unique item or skin. However, sooner or later, you will get a pop-up asking for your login info as a "security measure". You know where this is going, right? The pop-up was fake, and the game was only there to grab your login info. You will protect yourself by knowing that no game in Roblox can create Robux. And no one will ever ask you for your login and password in a game. So never fill them out inside any game.

How Do We Protect Ourselves Against Any Roblox Scams? 

We want to emphasise that, unfortunately, some people are willing to scam or steal from others, and it's essential to stay informed and take measures to protect yourself. To stop scammers, it's vital to keep your account secure. To do this, you should use a secure password unique to your Roblox account and not use the same password for other accounts. In addition, ensure your Email is verified and updated as needed, and set a PIN on your account to prevent others from making changes without your permission. Turning on Two-Factor Authentication can also help secure your account.

It's important to note that ROBLOSECURITY, the cookie generated when logging into Roblox, can be stolen with scams. To avoid falling victim to these, never run code in your browser, screen share your browser, or download or upload files requested by other users. Lastly, it's crucial to remember that "free Robux" does not exist, and legitimate Roblox staff will never threaten to ban your account over something or PM you on Discord. Official messages will only come from the site's " Roblox " user or an @roblox.com email domain. So stay informed, stay safe, and help stop scammers, also visit https://www.reddit.com/r/RobloxScams/ to stay the most up-to-date.