As KICK has grown, so have the people trying to take advantage of Streamers and Viewers through scams, phishing, and impersonation. Knowing what to watch for is the best way to protect yourself and your community.
This guide covers the most common scams targeting KICK users, how to spot them, and what to do if you have been affected.
How KICK communicates with you
Before getting into specific scams, it helps to know what legitimate KICK communication looks like:
- Official KICK emails come from kick.com domains
- KICK will never ask for your password by email, chat, or any other method
- KICK will never ask for your Stripe login or payment details outside the official platform
- KICK will not contact you to verify your account through random direct messages
- Official partnership and sponsorship offers come through official channels, not from random accounts
If you are ever unsure whether a message is from KICK, do not click any links or provide information. Contact [email protected] to verify.
Common phishing attempts
Fake "your account will be suspended" emails
One of the most common scams. You receive an email claiming your account is in violation of guidelines and will be suspended unless you click a link to verify.
The link goes to a fake login page that captures your KICK credentials. Once they have your password, the attackers can take over your account, change your details, and lock you out.
How to spot it:
- Urgency and threats ("act in the next 24 hours")
- Generic greetings ("Dear User")
- Suspicious URLs (kick-support.com, kick-verify.net, etc.)
- Slight misspellings or odd formatting
- Requests for your password or login details
What to do:
- Do not click any links in the email
- Verify the situation by logging into KICK directly through your browser
- Forward the email to [email protected] if you want it investigated
- Delete the email
Fake sponsorship offers
You receive a message — often through social media or email — offering a partnership or sponsorship deal. The offer asks you to:
- Sign up to a third-party platform
- Download "promotional software" or a "demo build"
- Click a link to view details
- Provide personal information for a contract
These can be elaborate. The "company" may have a website, branded materials, and a polished pitch. Once you download the file or click the link, malware is installed on your computer or your account is compromised.
How to spot it:
- The offer comes out of nowhere, especially for smaller channels
- The pitch is unusually generous given your channel size
- They ask you to download something to "review" or "test"
- They want you to act quickly
- They do not have a clear public footprint (no real company, social presence, or verifiable employees)
What to do:
- Verify the company exists independently — find them through Google, not through links they provided
- Never download files from people who reach out unsolicited
- If the offer seems legitimate, ask to communicate through the company's official email domain (not Gmail, Outlook, or random platforms)
- When in doubt, decline. Real opportunities will not disappear if you take time to verify
Fake KICK staff or moderators
Someone claiming to be a KICK employee or moderator contacts you through chat or another platform. They might:
- Offer to fix a problem on your account
- Claim they need to verify your identity
- Ask you to share your stream key, password, or verification code
- Tell you your account is at risk and they need access to help
KICK staff will never:
- Ask for your password
- Ask for your stream key
- Request 2FA codes
- Contact you through unofficial channels for account verification
What to do:
- Do not provide any account information
- Block and report the user
- If you are unsure whether a contact is legitimate, verify by contacting [email protected] directly
KICKs, Gifts, and payment scams
Targeted at both Streamers and Viewers:
A "Viewer" offers to pay you for a custom service that turns out to be a setup for fraud
A "fan" wants to send you KICKs or Gifts but claims they need your bank details to do so
A "Viewer" sends a large amount of KICKs or activates large Gifts, then claims it was a mistake and demands repayment (often through a different payment method)
What to do:
Never share bank or payment details with someone who reaches out unsolicited
KICKs and Gifts are non-refundable digital content — KICK does not process repayments to Viewers outside the official platform
For payment-related disputes, route them through KICK's Subscriptions Team at [email protected]
Account compromise scams
Stream key theft
Your stream key is what allows your encoder to broadcast to your channel. If someone gets it, they can broadcast to your channel as if they were you.
Common ways stream keys leak:
- Showing the stream key on screen during stream setup (it is sometimes briefly visible in OBS or Streamlabs)
- Sharing your stream key with a "friend" who needs to "test something"
- Saving your stream key in plain text in a public location
- Granting third-party services access without verifying them
Protection:
- Never share your stream key
- Reset your stream key if you suspect it has been exposed
- Be cautious about screen-sharing during setup
- Only authorise trusted streaming software
2FA bypass attempts
Someone may try to trick you into giving them your 2FA code. They might:
- Pose as KICK support ("we need this code to verify your account")
- Send a code to your phone and then ask you to read it back
- Claim you accidentally subscribed to something and need to confirm with the code
Never share a 2FA code with anyone, ever. Codes are for you to use, not to share.
If someone pushes you for a code, that is a clear sign of an attack. Stop, end the contact, and change your password.
Impersonation scams
Fake Streamer accounts
Scammers create accounts with usernames very close to popular Streamers (KICK_OfficialName, RealStreamerName, StreamerName_Backup) and use them to:
- Run fake giveaways requiring payment to enter
- Promote scam websites or products
- Trick fans into providing personal information
- Spread malicious links
How to spot impersonators:
- The account is recently created
- The username has subtle differences from the real one
- The follower count is much lower than the real account
- The content does not match the real Streamer's history
- Real Streamers will usually have a way to verify their account from official channels
What to do:
- Report the impersonating account
- Do not engage with their giveaways or links
- For impersonation of yourself, contact [email protected] with details
Fake Viewer or Chatter accounts
Less common but worth knowing about. Scammers may create accounts pretending to be specific Viewers in your community to:
- Ask other Chatters for money or favours in your name
- Spread misinformation about you
- Cause drama in your community
Protection:
- Make it clear to your community that you do not solicit donations or money outside official channels
- Have your Moderators watch for impersonation patterns
- Encourage your community to report suspicious behaviour
What to do if you have been scammed
If you have already given out information, downloaded a file, or fallen for a scam:
Change your password immediately if you provided it. See How to change your KICK password
Enable Two-Factor Authentication if you have not already
Run a malware scan on your computer if you downloaded anything
Contact your bank if you provided payment details
Contact [email protected] to report what happened
Document everything for any potential investigation
For account recovery, see Account recovery.
General security habits
A few habits that protect you long-term:
- Use a unique, strong password for KICK that you do not use anywhere else
- Enable 2FA and save your backup codes in a password manager
- Be skeptical of unsolicited offers, especially generous ones
- Verify before clicking — hover over links to see where they actually go
- Keep your software up to date — browsers, operating systems, antivirus
- Use a password manager so you do not reuse passwords across sites
- Do not share account details with anyone, including friends
Reporting scams
For scams you have encountered or fallen for, contact our Cyber Security Team at [email protected]. Please include:
- Your KICK username
- A description of what happened
- Any account details of the scammer
- Screenshots, emails, or other evidence
- Whether you provided any information or downloaded anything
For general security questions, contact [email protected].
Related articles
- Account Safety at KICK
- Account recovery
- How to enable Two-Factor Authentication
- How to change your KICK password
- Two-Factor Authentication problems
- Streamer Safety Tips: How to Stream Safely on KICK
- Doxxing Explainer