Source: Official GTA 6 screenshot. Source: Rockstar Games.
What this means
- The scam wave is now big enough to land on mainstream local TV — a sign GTA 6 hype has gone fully mainstream, and scammers are scaling up.
- There is no beta, no early access, no playable public build: anything promising one is after your money or your data.
- Local news coverage like this reaches people who never read gaming press — it protects the most vulnerable fans from FOMO-driven scams.
Key facts
- When: October 18, 2026 — CBS News Miami consumer segment.
- What: Fake GTA 6 early-access ads spreading malware and stealing money.
- Source: CBS News Miami segment, quoted by GTA BOOM; Chris Mawson (Power Up Gaming founder) named as the expert.
GTA 6's hype has crossed into the evening-news mainstream. CBS News Miami aired a consumer-protection segment on October 18 warning viewers to watch out for scammers exploiting the game's hype with fake early-access offers.
The segment quoted Chris Mawson, founder and editor-in-chief of Power Up Gaming, who laid out the playbook: scammers post fake social-media ads with links promising early access to GTA 6 for a fee. "When the user installs it, unfortunately, it turns out to be malware or a virus," Mawson said, adding that it can steal personal information or money. He said the scams prey on one thing every fan has right now: "We all experience the fear of missing out."
Mawson's advice is the same message Rockstar itself keeps repeating: there is no legitimate way to play GTA 6 early, so any offer to download it before launch is a scam. Buy the game only from Rockstar Games' official site or a reputable store, never click a download link posted on social media, and pre-order through real retailers. When you pay, use a credit card rather than cryptocurrency, since crypto is far harder to claw back once it is gone. "Anyone promising that on social media should be treated as an immediate red flag," he said.
CBS even spoke to Miami resident Oscar Chiffone, who said he will wait for the official release and buy the next Grand Theft Auto only through legitimate channels. As GTA BOOM put it, when the evening news is teaching people how not to get scammed buying a game, that game is a cultural event in its own right.
Sources
- CBS 4 News Morning — "Watch out for GTA VI scams" (segment clip)
- GTA BOOM — Even Local News Is Warning Miami About GTA 6 Scams Now
Segment confirmed via the CBS 4 News Morning segment clip ("Watch out for GTA VI scams") plus GTA BOOM's October 18 report; expert quoted is named (Chris Mawson, Power Up Gaming founder). Scam facts match Rockstar's own consistent messaging.
