PS5 Players Report Losing Accounts to Scammers Bypassing PlayStation Security

PlayStation players are reporting an increase in PSN account takeovers, with scammers sometimes managing to bypass even two-factor authentication through Sony customer support.

More and more reports of account compromises are appearing on forums and social media. Players note that losing access can now mean losing game libraries worth hundreds and thousands of dollars, especially given the industry shift toward digital distribution.

Judging by the descriptions of these cases, malicious actors are using social engineering rather than traditional hacking. After obtaining a password or access to a linked email address, they contact support and convince employees to disable 2FA under the pretext of losing a phone.

After taking over an account, scammers can send offensive messages from it. As a result, the moderation system bans the profile, and its true owner has to prove that the violations were committed by an unauthorized user.

Owners of short and rare PSN IDs are targeted particularly often. Anyone who loses an account is advised to contact Sony support as soon as possible with their console’s serial number or PS Store purchase confirmations prepared.