Fortnite
Fortnite
Here is part of a helpful article from www.safeonsocial.com.
As most parents are well aware, Fortnite Battle Royale was released around a year ago, as a free-to-download game that is now available on a multitude of computing platforms. It sees players attempt to stay alive for as long as they can, in games that last around 20 minutes. It features cartoon violence, where players can use a variety of weapons, such as guns and axes, to "kill other players", despite the fact it has been rated suitable for children to play. The often ignored age recommendation is 13+.
(image from https://www.gameskinny.com)
Fortnite is the biggest game in the world, right now, and in some cases, it is being exploited by scammers who try and steal information and money from the young people who play it. Downloading Fortnite is free, but like many other games it has an entire in-game economy of purchasing options. This is how Epic Games, the producers of Fortnite make their money. Players (or their parents) use real money to buy a currency called V-bucks, which can then be traded for cosmetic options and other upgrades within the game. Like anything else, where there is popularity there is the potential for scams, that is what is happening on Fortnite.
Some of the scams are being used across the internet in different forums and in-game through chatting directly to players and are trying to trick young people into giving up the personal and sensitive information of themselves and their parents. It is being done by offering them free V-bucks and winning them over by chatting with them through headsets. It is the virtual currency that allows people to buy upgrades, and it is the desire to get hold of them that has meant vast numbers of young people are being caught up in the scams. Often, scams are distributed through YouTube, and searching that site for “Free V-bucks” brings up around 4 million results. The videos usually direct children to another site or app away from YouTube with the promise that they will receive free V-bucks.
Voice chat tools within Fortnite could be used to contact young people and ask for personal information. The way the game works means that anyone can get in touch with anyone else playing the game and the feature cannot be fully disabled. In one case, a few weeks ago we heard of an eight-year-old boy that after sneaking to his mother's purse, gave a random stranger he was chatting to her driver's license number and credit card details on the promise that he would get free V-bucks in exchange for the information. However, in light of emerging concerns about the risks and scams young people could be exposed to, we are urging parents to be aware of Fortnite’s features.
It is vital parents have regular conversations with their children about the games they are playing, and how to stay safe online.
Parent Tips for Online Gaming
Some very practical tips for parents on managing online gaming can be found at https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent/staying-safe/online-gaming/safe-gaming-5-tips
Tips for setting parental controls on online gaming can be found at