HoYoverse says phished Genshin Impact accounts logged into 'third-party' sites
It also warned players against using applications from unknown sources
Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse warned players on Monday (9 January) about a growing number of cases of unauthorised logins and account theft as a result of phishing sites from unknown sources.
HoYoverse said in a statement that they had received feedback from players through their community and customer service channels regarding such cases and had conducted an investigation.
The developer said it found that many of the affected accounts "have logged in to third-party websites and applications from unknown sources", opening them up to phishing attacks.
Phishing, one of the most common types of internet scams, refers to cases where malicious entities pretend to be a trustworthy figure in order to steal data like login credentials or credit card information from unwitting victims.
Phishing attacks are commonly masqueraded as emails, text messages, or in this case, third-party websites that often lure unwitting players with in-game rewards and other scams.
Ways to avoid getting phished in Genshin Impact
HoYoverse reminded players NOT to rely on information from unofficial platforms, log onto unknown sources that claim to sell accounts or top up Primogems, use external or third-party plug-ins, provide sensitive security information, and share their accounts with others.
In addition, the developer advised players to always verify the official domain name of the websites they're logging on to or downloading.
The only official domain names used by HoYoverse for Genshin Impact include: hoyoverse.com, hoyolab.com, genshinimpact.com, hoyo.link.
What to do if your Genshin Impact account has been phished or stolen
If players have fallen victims to the phishing attacks and exposed their accounts, HoYoverse recommended users to change their password as soon as possible.
Affected players can also contact the developer via their official channels in the HoYoLAB App, the Genshin Impact Customer Service email address genshin_cs@hoyoverse.com, among other means.
HoYoverse assured players that they took all feedback regarding account thefts "extremely seriously and will promptly investigate and follow up on each case" based on information provided by players.
The developer added that they would also continue to "crack down on illegal phishing websites and enhance account security through technical means".
Genshin Impact is currently in version 3.3, which will last until 17 January.
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The next Genshin Impact update, version 3.4, will be released on 18 January. For everything you need to know about Genshin Impact version 3.4, check here.
Yan Ku is a full-time dog parent, part-time (gacha) gamer, and part-time writer.
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