This is currently happening at such a large scale, I'm making a post about it.
If you're making an
#Indiegame and getting review requests from YouTube channels that seem too good to be true: it probably is.
π© Here are some red flags you should keep an eye on:
- Way too consistent viewcount: every video gets the same amount of views (usually ~7000)
- The person speaking has a similar accent on all of them. Usually listed in the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway. but the accent doesn't match.
- The comments are fake. copied from other videos of the same game, with throwaway accounts.
- They have no social media listed.
- Their email will match the one they are contacting you from, but don't let that fool you.
- do a check on
@SocialBlade, you'll notice their /user/ name in the URL will be different from what you entered as a search they have a drop of millions of views at some point (the moment the account was hacked, bought or reset)
- They will usually ask multiple keys. for their sibling, friend, partner. That's just to sell more copies.
- They will email from several accounts, I'm talking 20 and you'll notice the similarities in formatting
Do the quick checks. Don't waste your keys on such accounts because they will end of being sold.
If you got an email: block them so they can't annoy you again.
If the request was on
@press_engine,
@LURKITcom,
@Keymailer or any other key distribution platform: use the tools available to flag them and make the world a better place for all your fellow devs/PR/Publishers.
We're in this fight together! πͺ
Share this message with your
#IndieDev friends to warn them!
I'll link some examples below π