Since the launch of the long-awaited new PlayStation 5 consoles earlier in November, we’ve been hearing non-stop reports of crashing websites of online retailers and stock running out.
The PS5 panic is so great at the moment that it is difficult or even impossible to order one. But what if you could somehow win one?
A ray of light on many a gamer’s horizon is the growing number of PS5 lotteries which have appeared on many Internet sites and social networks.
They can be legitimate, but they often aren’t, consumer watchdogs say. The general rule is that sweepstakes and raffles are carried out so that websites can collect data for advertising purposes.
However, there’s also a chance the lottery is little more than a phishing attack trying to get your login details or a ruse to get likes for a social media platform.
In any case, you should pay close attention to who is behind the competition and whether it’s really worth handing over your details for the slim chance of winning a real PlayStation, say the watchdogs at Germany’s Consumer Centre of Lower Saxony.
You should get suspicious if you find yourself being asked to hand over irrelevant personal information like your date of birth or are confronted with lengthy participation rules and data protection regulations.
Lottery organisers should also never be asking you to log into any account or to submit bank account or credit card information. – dpa
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