The much-hyped Nintendo Switch 2 has hit the shops and social feeds have been buzzing since the launch.
The popularity of gaming is at an all-time high and according to a 2025 Ofcom report, 89% of children in the UK play games on some sort of device. It’ll come as no surprise then that speculation about the Switch 2 has been rife, with more than 48,000 posts about the console on TikTok.
Switch 2 misinformation and scams
The original Nintendo Switch is the third best-selling games console of all time, with more than 150 million units sold worldwide, and with some pre-orders for the Switch 2 already selling out, scammers have been trying to take advantage of the popularity of the in-demand console.
The most common rumours you may see shared on socials involve the spec of the console, game-key cards, compatibility of original Switch games and even gossip about whether or not Nintendo will be able to make your console permanently unusable if you break certain rules.
If you do see content of this nature on your socials, you should always check the facts and do some research using reliable sources before believing what you see.
With scams on online marketplaces, fraudulent websites, and phishing e-mails potentially putting you at risk, we look at how you can avoid falling victim when purchasing the latest must-have tech online. Scroll down for our tips.
Check seller
With news that one UK chain of gaming stores was cancelling some pre-orders of the Switch 2, you might be tempted to head to online marketplaces, such as eBay, to pick up your pre-order of the new Nintendo console. However, you should be extra wary when buying from marketplace websites, especially when sellers have negative or a low amount of .
You can help avoid falling for marketplace scams by:
- Making sure you look at the s star () rating and how many items they've sold previously, usually the higher rating the better. However, this doesn't always guarantee that the item will be legitimate.
- You can usually check the seller has received for items that are similar to the one you’re interested in buying, but this isn't possible with a pre-order item.
If you do decide to purchase from a marketplace or auction website, make sure that you check whether your purchase will be protected should you not receive the item you expect. Some marketplace platforms like Facebook don't offer buyer protection, so if you do get scammed you won't be covered and you will lose your money.
Read the description
One Switch scam has blown up on socials, after posts on X showed a seller on eBay reportedly selling a pre-order for the Switch 2… however, if you read the description more closely you will see that they are in fact selling a piece of paper!
The description reads, "You are purchasing a black-and-white printed picture of my Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order confirmation. You will not receive a console… No returns, no refunds."
You should always read auction descriptions on sites like eBay closely before making an offer or buying the item. If something doesn't look quite right, or looks too good to be true, then it's best to steer clear.
Nintendo Japan recently released a statement about fraudulent listings of its products on marketplace sites, and are working with several online retailers to try and combat the issue.
Stay alert to avoid phishing
In the dash to pick up a must-have console, like the Switch 2, some people will go to extreme lengths to get one. More than 2.2 million fans entered the Nintendo Japan lottery for a chance to purchase a pre-order Switch 2. However, scammers took advantage of this and sent out phishing e-mails to customers, asking for personal data, which could lead to identity theft.
Nintendo sent out a warning on X about the scam, and whilst this one appears to have targeted Japanese consumers, fans across the UK should also be careful as scammers try and take advantage of the hype using clickbait.
Some of the warning signs to look out for in scam emails include:
- Spelling mistakes in the sender's email address or email subject heading
- Letters that have been changed or are missing from the company's name
- Suspicious looking links that the email is asking you to click with urgency
- Bad spelling and dodgy grammar
- A request to submit personal details
If an offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Trust your instincts.
Not sure if the news you’re seeing on social media is true or false? Can you always tell if the things you see online are real or fake? Learn how to get the other side of the story with our quizzes, videos and explainers.
