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Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) players, beware—cybercriminals are running fake tournament streams to steal money and valuable Steam accounts. With major CS2 events like IEM Katowice 2025 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 drawing massive attention, scammers are exploiting the hype to defraud unsuspecting gamers.

Despite CS2 being a successor to a game that first launched over a decade ago, it remains one of the most popular first-person shooters today—recently setting a record with over 1.7 million concurrent players on Steam. Unfortunately, this popularity also makes it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to boost their illicit earnings.

One of the latest scams involves streamjacking, where fraudsters hijack legitimate YouTube accounts and pose as professional CS2 players. These scammers rebrand channels to look like official esports outlets and stream old gameplay footage on a loop, making it appear as if it’s a live event.

Throughout these streams, QR codes or suspicious links promise free CS2 skins or double returns on money deposits. However, clicking these links directs players to phishing sites that request their Steam login credentials. Once entered, scammers gain full access to the victim’s account, stealing high-value skins and in-game items. For those tricked into sending digital currencies, the funds are immediately funneled into scammer-controlled wallets.

Many players fall for these schemes because they appear highly legitimate. Hijacked YouTube channels often have thousands of subscribers and use names of well-known esports sponsors to boost credibility. Moreover, frequent giveaways and promotions during major tournaments create an environment where players are more willing to trust unexpected offers.

Additionally, the high value of rare CS2 skins—some selling for thousands of dollars—makes account hijacking particularly lucrative for cybercriminals.

Staying safe from these scams requires vigilance. Follow these essential steps to protect your CS2 account:

Verify Official Sources: Only watch tournament streams from verified esports channels. Confirm that a pro player is live-streaming from their official channel before interacting.
Be Skeptical of Giveaways: If a stream or website asks you to log in with your Steam credentials to claim a prize, it’s likely a scam. Offers that promise to double or triple your assets for an initial payment are also fraudulent.
Enable Steam Guard and MFA: Activate the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add extra layers of security to your account.
Monitor Your Account Activity: Regularly review your Steam login history. If you notice any unauthorized access, change your password immediately and revoke suspicious sessions.
Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Do not scan QR codes or click on links from unofficial streams. Always navigate to the official Steam website manually.

As CS2 continues to dominate the competitive gaming scene, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fake tournament streams might look convincing, but a little skepticism can go a long way in protecting your Steam account and valuable assets. Stay sharp, verify sources, and remember—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

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