Pokemon Go: Users are selling login details but they could be encouraging hackers

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Girls playing Pokemon GoImage source, Getty Images

People are selling their Pokemon Go accounts on sites like eBay.

It seems to be those who've reached very high levels or managed to catch rare Pokemon.

One login is priced at £500 - which gets you a level 23 account featuring an impressive set of evolved rare Pokemon.

But there's a warning that these sales could lead to people having their details hacked.

You don't have to have hundreds of pounds to get yourself a new account.

Lower level accounts, like 10 and 12, are listed for around £40.

There are also a number of Facebook groups dedicated to trading account details.

Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Don't catch Pidgeotto and drive!

However, trading login details could be dangerous.

Dr Guy Bunker, from security firm Clearswift, told Newsbeat that "whenever there is a new phenomenon such as Pokemon Go, there are several types of people who appear to cash in on the trend.

"The first are the people who genuinely have the logins to sell which belong to them.

"After this, the cyber criminals move in. Those who start by hacking the accounts using harvested passwords."

Dr Bunker says after that, come the phishing scams - where fake login pages are used to trick people into revealing their passwords.

"Be aware of any link which results in being asked to download something, as this will most likely be malware," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

"For those who are looking for a 'quick' way to move up the leaderboards in Pokemon Go, there really is no quick fix… play the game and enjoy it."

On the guidelines page, Niantic Labs, the developer behind Pokemon Go, states that sharing accounts is against the rules.

"Don't do it. Play fair."

"Methods of cheating, unfortunately, are limited only by cheaters' imaginations, but include at a minimum the following: using modified or unofficial software; playing with multiple accounts (one account per player, please); sharing accounts; using tools or techniques to alter or falsify your location; or selling/trading accounts.

"We may issue a warning, suspend you from the game, or (for serious or repeated violations) terminate your account."

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