Which Situation Are You In?
"I lost my account" covers three different problems, and each one is fixed a different way. Pick the one that matches.
My own account was hacked
Someone logged in, changed the password or email, or stripped your gold and items.
Start with the first hour → Bought accountAn account I bought was taken back
The original owner used the account's original email or details to recover it.
See your real options → Order problemA seller took my money
Gold, an item or a boost never arrived, or wasn't what was promised.
Open the dispute guide →Hacked: What to Do in the First Hour
Work through these in order. The order matters: if the attacker still controls your email, they can undo every other fix.
Secure the email address on the account
Change the email password from a device you trust, turn on two-factor authentication, and check its forwarding rules and recovery phone number. Attackers often add a forwarding rule so they keep seeing your reset emails.
Reset the game account password, or start recovery
If you can still log in, change the password and sign out of all sessions. If the password or email was changed, go straight to the publisher's official recovery form in the table below. Type the address in yourself instead of clicking a link someone sent you.
Turn on the publisher's authenticator
Most large publishers offer an authenticator app or SMS protection. Turn it on as soon as you're back in. It stops the same password from being reused against you.
Check your saved payment methods
Look for purchases you didn't make in the game store and on the card or PayPal linked to it. Report unauthorised charges to your bank or PayPal promptly.
Scan the computer you play on
Fake "free gold", add-on or cheat downloads are a common way accounts get stolen. Run a full malware scan before you type the new password on that machine.
Change any password you reused
If the stolen password was used anywhere else, change it there too. A password manager makes unique passwords painless. You can check whether your email appeared in a known data breach at Have I Been Pwned.
Official Recovery Pages by Publisher
Use only the official pages below, and type the address yourself if you can. Scammers run fake "support" pages and Discord accounts that copy these names.
| Publisher | Games include | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Blizzard | World of Warcraft, Diablo IV, Overwatch 2 | Account Hacked (Blizzard Support) |
| Jagex | Old School RuneScape, RuneScape 3 | RuneScape Support, account recovery |
| Valve (Steam) | Any game on your Steam account | Steam Support: Account Stolen |
| Epic Games | Fortnite, Rocket League, Epic Store | Submit an account recovery request |
| Square Enix | Final Fantasy XIV, Dragon Quest X | "My account has been compromised" (NA) |
| Roblox | Roblox | My account was hacked: what do I do? |
Playing something not listed? Search the game's name plus "support" and confirm the domain belongs to the publisher before you sign in. Links checked October 2026.
A Bought Account Was Taken Back
This is the most common way account purchases go wrong, and it can happen weeks or months after the sale. The original owner contacts the publisher, proves they created the account (first email, billing details, creation date) and gets it back.
Be realistic about the publisher. Almost every publisher's terms forbid selling or transferring accounts, so support will usually side with the person who can prove they created the account, and they won't refund what you paid a third party. Your recovery options are with the seller and the payment, not the game company:
- Use the seller's or marketplace's warranty. Many account sellers offer a recovery guarantee for a set period. Open a claim through the marketplace's own order page, not a private chat. Here's how to file a strong dispute.
- Escalate to your payment provider if the seller won't resolve it. Card issuers and PayPal have dispute processes with time limits, so don't wait. See our payment protection guide.
- Don't create a second support ticket claiming the account is yours. Misrepresenting ownership to a publisher can get the account and others linked to you banned.
Next time, read how to buy an MMO account safely first. Accounts that come with full original-email access and a written recovery warranty are much less likely to be pulled back.
Reporting Fraud
If money was stolen or a seller defrauded you, report it. It creates a record your bank may ask for, and it helps police track repeat scammers.
United States
FTC ReportFraud for scams and fraud, and the FBI's IC3 for internet crime.
United Kingdom
Report Fraud, the national service that replaced Action Fraud.
Everywhere
Report the seller on the marketplace where you found them, and report fake support accounts to the platform they're on (Discord, Steam, social media).
Watch Out for "Recovery Services"
After a hack, people often get messages from someone claiming they can get the account back for a fee, or who poses as game support. Real publisher support never asks you to pay for recovery, and never asks for your password or authenticator codes. Anyone who does is trying to scam you a second time. Our guide to avoiding MMO trading scams covers the usual tricks.
Make It Hard to Happen Again
- Unique password for your game account and its email
- Authenticator app turned on for both
- No "free gold", cheat or unofficial add-on downloads
- Never share login details with boosters unless it's a piloted service you chose. Prefer self-play boosts when they're offered
- Recovery details (phone, backup email) kept current
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if my game account is hacked?
Secure the email account linked to it first: change its password and turn on two-factor authentication. Then reset the game password or use the publisher's official recovery form, and turn on the game's authenticator once you're back in.
Can I get back an account I bought if the original owner recovers it?
Usually not from the publisher, because most games forbid account sales and side with the original creator. Your options are the seller's or marketplace's warranty and a dispute with your payment provider.
Will the publisher restore my stolen gold and items?
Many large publishers can restore items lost during a confirmed compromise, but it isn't guaranteed and policies differ. Report it quickly and include dates and screenshots.
Someone offered to recover my account for a fee. Is it real?
No. Official support never charges for account recovery or asks for your password or authenticator codes. Paid "recovery services" contacting you after a hack are a common follow-up scam.
Where do I report gaming fraud?
In the US, use FTC ReportFraud and the FBI's IC3. In the UK, use Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud. Also report the seller on the marketplace you used.
