The promise of “free diamonds” in Garena Free Fire, the hugely popular battle royale game, continues to lure unsuspecting players into traps, with scams on the rise across India. Despite repeated warnings from Garena and cybersecurity experts, many players—especially younger ones—are still falling victim to fake offers of cheap or free in-game currency. These scams often result in financial losses and compromised accounts.

In Free Fire, diamonds are the game’s premium currency, allowing players to unlock exclusive characters, weapon skins, bundles, and other coveted items. Because these in-game items often come with a hefty price tag, scammers find plenty of opportunities to exploit players’ desire for free or cheaper diamonds.

Recent trends show a steady increase in “Free Fire diamond scams.” Common tactics include:

Fake Websites and “Diamond Generators”: Many fraudulent sites and apps claim to generate unlimited diamonds at no cost. They typically ask for personal details, including login credentials, or push users to complete fake “human verification” steps. In reality, these are phishing scams aimed at stealing account information or infecting devices with malware. News24 and Garena’s official support teams have repeatedly warned that so-called “diamond generators” are fake and cannot change the game’s server data.

Social Media and YouTube Scams: Scammers also advertise heavily on social media and YouTube, using clickbait headlines and fake success stories to draw players in. Victims are often directed to dubious links, private WhatsApp groups, or asked to send money through UPI or other payment methods for diamond top-ups that never arrive. Some YouTubers with large audiences have even been caught live-streaming these scams, with discussions about this seen on platforms like Reddit.

Account Hacking and Theft: In more serious cases, players end up handing over their login details, only to have their accounts hacked or stolen. There are several reports of players losing access to their accounts after clicking malicious links or giving away information in exchange for supposed “rewards.”

Parental Oversight Challenges: What makes these scams even more worrying is that many victims are minors. Parents have reported significant losses when their children, eager for an in-game edge, unknowingly fall for these traps. There have been cases where children made multiple transactions from linked bank accounts without their parents’ knowledge. A well-known example from Aluva, Kerala, in 2021 involved a 14-year-old who spent ₹2.93 lakh on Free Fire purchases—highlighting how severe these incidents can be.

Garena and the authorities stress that the only legitimate ways to get diamonds are through official in-game purchases, taking part in official events and tournaments, or redeeming genuine codes provided by Garena. Any offer that sounds “too good to be true” almost always is.

Players are strongly advised to:

    • Always buy diamonds only through the official in-game store or trusted retailers.
    • Never share their Free Fire login credentials or banking details with anyone.
    • Be extremely cautious of offers promising free or deeply discounted diamonds.
    • Avoid clicking on links from unknown or suspicious sources.
    • Parents should keep a close eye on their children’s gaming activities and make sure bank accounts are not linked to gaming apps without strict controls.

    As Free Fire’s popularity grows, so do the risks of falling prey to these scams. Staying alert and following official safety measures are still the best ways to protect yourself from the ever-present threat of “Free Fire diamond scams.”