Scammers deceive Russians using “early access” to GTA VI on PC

Those wanting to play early are running into trouble.

Grand Theft Auto VI is supposed to be released in a few days, but some are tired of waiting and want to jump into the new installment of the Rockstar Games franchise as soon as possible. Scammers noticed this and decided to come forward with a corresponding offer.

Alexey Mironov, an information security expert from the company Stakhanovets, spoke with RIA Novosti and warned Russians about the danger. Fraudsters have begun sending people offers to download Grand Theft Auto VI to start playing early—before the official release. However, those who download such an “early version” of the game actually run into trouble: malware disguised as game files is distributed, which can steal bank card and crypto wallet data.

Alexey Mironov noted that rumors of an early release of GTA VI on PC “fuel demand for unofficial builds.”

Among the viruses that scammers send to the victim’s PC, there may be not only stealers, but also “ransomware”—it encrypts the victim’s data, and the criminals then demand a ransom to restore it. The expert noted that recovery without a backup is often impossible. Mironov recommends not believing news about “early PC versions” of GTA VI. 

The release of Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.