The long-awaited Switch 2 has finally launched, and folks are finally getting hands-on with Nintendo’s newest portable console. But whenever a high-demand, sold-out item hits the market, scammers are waiting to take advantage with a myriad of tricks designed to leave you with empty pockets.

6

Photo Only Resale Listings

This is one of the oldest launch-day scams in the book. Scammers will take a picture of a Nintendo Switch 2 (or steal one from elsewhere) and list it on a popular reselling platform, like eBay.

You buy the listing, amazed that you’ve got your hands on a Nintendo Switch 2—but in reality, nothing is coming. Or, a literal photo of the Switch 2 arrives, and the scammer makes off with your money.

This has been a big problem in the past. In 2020, eBay took specific steps to stop scammers selling pictures of the PS5, but it didn’t stop people from falling victim.

The photo-only Switch 2 scam has been circulating for a couple of months already, despite the Switch 2 only launching on June 5, 2025.

5

Pre-Order Flipping and Double Selling

Scalpers who manage to snap up a single Switch 2 reservation may list the same pre-order code or reservation confirmation email multiple times. They take money from the highest bidders and send out the confirmations on receipt.

But when you attempt to claim your Switch 2, there is no reservation, as the new console has already been claimed, leaving you with little recourse. You’ll then have to go through a potentially difficult refund process to claim your stolen funds back.

Wired reports that some prices for these pre-order sales are rising hundreds of dollars above the asking price, making the pain that much worse if you lose out.

Another sneaky tactic is spoofed emails appearing to come from Nintendo.

These fake emails swap the scammer’s email address for something official-looking, and claim there has been a problem with your order or that you’ve been selected to claim a Nintendo Switch 2.

But when you click through, you end up on a phishing site designed to steal your private data, such as your banking information, Nintendo login information, and so on.

It’s all designed to trick you into giving up information. My Nintendo News reported on a phishing email campaign attempting just this, first revealed by an official Nintendo account on X.

A variant of this comes from fake social media giveaways. There are numerous accounts promoting big Switch 2 giveaways, and while some are legit, many will be run by fake or stolen accounts.

Similar to phishing emails, these fake social media giveaways are designed to steal your personal data. Or, the giveaway is real and only claims your email address—but no one ever really wins a Nintendo Switch 2. It’s just a way to bulk out the email marketing list.

3

Typo-Squatting Domains and Fake Retail Sites

Typosquatting is a direct result of when you “fat-finger” an address while typing a URL into the address bar. I’m sure everyone has done this at some point: a little slip of the finger has you reading MakUseOf.com instead of MakeUseOf.com.

When this happens with retail sites, there is a chance a scammer has bought a similar URL and is just waiting for those accidental finger slips to lead a victim to the lair. The fake site is designed to look and function just like the real online shopping site, but of course, it results in the loss of money and data.

Typo-squatting and fake retail sites tie into phishing emails, too. A phishing email will direct you to a site that appears to be the real deal, designed to make you feel comfortable and familiar. But a look at the URL in the address bar usually reveals that you’re not on the correct site, and could be walking into a scam.

Browsers like Google Chrome do protect against typo-squatting, and the major corporations own many of the most common accidentally typed URLs relating to their domains, all to keep us safe online. For example, if you input amazn.com into the address bar in your browser, you’ll be redirected to amazon.com, the real website.

Still, taking a moment to check the URL can save a whole world of time and effort.

2

Counterfeit Consoles and Dummy Units

Now, this one is difficult to protect against online, as a good fake console can be photographed to look like the real deal. Images of the Nintendo Switch 2 have been available for a long enough time that some scammers have created convincing-looking dummy units.

It’s one of those scams you won’t figure out until you have the item in your hands, and by then, it’s too late.

1

Nintendo Switch 2 Emulator Malware

I’ll caveat this section with the fact that I’m yet to actually see Switch 2 emulator malware in the wild. So, don’t panic immediately.

However, when the original Nintendo Switch launched back in 2017, there were more than a few fake Nintendo Switch emulators circulated, all of which ended up being dangerous malware.

You’ll typically see an outlandish claim such as “Free Nintendo Switch 2 Emulator With Free Games” or something similar, designed to pull you in. But no such product exists, and anything labeled as such is a big red flag.

Unfortunately, scammers will always take advantage of big launch events like the Nintendo Switch 2. With the hype and rush to get the latest and greatest in gaming tech, some folks are simply not going to pay attention and will end up falling for a scam. But there are a few ways you can protect yourself from Nintendo Switch 2 scams:

While missing out on a launch day Nintendo Switch 2 may feel disappointing, it won’t be long until the shops and online retailers are filled with stock again. You’re much better off keeping your wallet and data safe, ready for the next time you can get your hands on a shiny, new Nintendo Switch 2.