The rise of Play-to-Earn (P2E) gaming has opened exciting opportunities for gamers to earn real income through NFTs and crypto tokens. However, with great rewards come significant risks—scammers are constantly targeting unsuspecting players with fake marketplaces, phishing attacks, and malicious contracts.
In this guide, we’ll cover essential security practices to protect your gaming NFTs and tokens, including how to avoid fake Axie Infinity marketplace scams and verify legitimate game contracts.
1. Beware of Fake Axie Infinity Marketplace Scams
Axie Infinity is one of the most popular P2E games, making it a prime target for scams. Fraudsters create fake marketplaces that mimic the official Axie Infinity Marketplace to steal users’ NFTs and private keys.
How to Spot Fake Axie Marketplaces:
- Check the URL: The official marketplace is at https://marketplace.axieinfinity.com. Scammers often use slight misspellings like
axieinfinty.comoraxie-marketplace.com. - Look for HTTPS & Security Certificates: Legitimate sites use HTTPS and have valid SSL certificates (look for the padlock icon in the browser).
- Verify Social Media Links: Scam sites may link to fake Twitter or Discord accounts. Cross-check with Axie’s official channels.
- Avoid Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals: If an Axie is priced far below market value, it’s likely a scam.
What to Do If You Encounter a Scam:
- Do not connect your wallet.
- Report the site to Axie Infinity’s official support team.
- Warn others in the community via Discord or Twitter.
2. How to Verify Legitimate Game Contracts
Many P2E games operate on blockchains like Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), or Polygon, where smart contracts handle transactions. Malicious contracts can drain your wallet, so verification is crucial.
Steps to Verify a Game’s Smart Contract:
1. Check the Official Game Website & Docs
- Legitimate projects always provide their contract addresses in official documentation or FAQs.
- Example: Axie Infinity’s contracts are listed on their GitHub and official docs.
2. Use Blockchain Explorers
- Enter the contract address into:
- Etherscan (for Ethereum) – https://etherscan.io
- BscScan (for BSC) – https://bscscan.com
- Polygonscan (for Polygon) – https://polygonscan.com
- Look for:
- Verified Contract (blue checkmark)
- Legitimate token name & symbol (e.g., “AXS” for Axie Infinity Shards)
3. Avoid Interacting with Unknown Contracts
- If a Discord mod or Twitter user sends you a contract address, double-check it first.
- Never approve unlimited token spending (use Revoke.cash to check permissions).
4. Use a Secure Wallet
- Hardware wallets (Ledger/Trezor) provide the best security.
- MetaMask users should enable phishing detection in settings.
3. Additional Security Tips for P2E Gamers
✅ Enable 2FA on all gaming and exchange accounts.
✅ Use a Separate Wallet for gaming to limit exposure.
✅ Beware of Phishing Links – Never click on suspicious Discord/Twitter DMs.
✅ Keep Private Keys Offline – Never share your seed phrase.
Final Thoughts
As Play-to-Earn gaming grows, so do the risks. By staying vigilant—verifying marketplaces, checking smart contracts, and securing your wallet—you can enjoy P2E gaming without falling victim to scams.
Have you encountered any NFT gaming scams? Share your experience in the comments to help others stay safe!
🔒 Stay secure, and happy gaming!
Nice!