How to Protect Your Account When Trading CS:GO Skins?

Although there are many cheap skins on the market, some of the in-game items can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Consequently, the skins market attracts scammers, who try and invent various malicious ways to steal skins or money from unsuspecting users. You probably know the basic rules of protecting your Steam Account. Here is some more specific advice, which turns out useful, when you want to buy or sell CS:GO skins safely. 

Protect Your Personal Information

First, do not forget the basics about protecting your personal information, such as your Steam login, your password (this is pretty obvious), or other true information about you. Do not disclose it to people you do not know. Even if it will not be used against you directly and immediately, it can resurface later. For example, by knowing your location, real-life name, and surname, scammers can use it to make a phishing email look more credible or pretend to be you in a chat with support to claim your account. 

Avoid Phishing Links

Phishing links are one of the most common forms of scams. It is a link that takes you to a page, which looks like Steam Community Market, but in fact, it is not. Everything you enter on such a page is transferred to a scammer, so it can steal your login and password. Often such links are distributed under the guise of free skin giveaways or skin lotteries. Here are some tips that will help you to avoid phishing: 

• If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is. A discount or a price slightly lower than the market price is possible, but if someone promises, that you can win Dragon Lore, it is definitely a scam.

• Do not trust links that someone sends to you via chat or email. Always check the URL before entering your login and password. 

• If you get an email demanding you to do something regarding your Steam account, do not follow the links from it. Visit the official Steam website and contact support, if you have doubts. 

Protect Yourself from Trade Offer Scams

If you want to grow your collection of CS:GO skins, you may use various ways to obtain new items. The safest and simplest one is using Steam Market, but there are also many third-party platforms with better prices, as well as forums, where you can negotiate trades with other users. Here are some things you need to pay attention to: 

• Always check the contents of the trade offer carefully. Sometimes scammers can try to slip in a cheaper item instead of a similar-looking expensive one, hoping that an inexperienced player will not notice. 

• Do not agree to pay cash in advance, as nothing will prevent the scammer to disappear with your money without giving you any skins. 

• Protect your Steam API key. It is used as an identification, so if the scammer knows it, they can use it to substitute your trades and steal items. If you have suspicions, delete the old API key and generate a new one. 

As you see, negotiating the trade on your own can be risky. Using a third-party platform for buying and selling skins is the safer option. The security of your users’ data is one of our priorities, so by making your trades and Skin.Land you will be sure, that you get CS:GO skins for a good price, without risking your inventory or your money.