According to a report on September 4th， Tencent QQ has issued a public warning regarding the increasing prevalence of QQ account trading scams. The official QQ platform has highlighted four significant risks associated with buying and selling QQ accounts， urging users to exercise extreme caution.
1. The Common Outcome: Losing Both Money and Account
Scammers frequently lure unsuspecting individuals by offering high prices for QQ accounts or selling rare accounts at a low cost. Enticed by the prospect of quick profit or obtaining a valuable account， some users readily engage in these transactions. However， once the payment is made， the scammers typically block and delete the contact immediately， leaving the user with both their money gone and their desired account out of reach， turning their expectations into disappointment.
2. Severe Consequences of Privacy Leakage
A QQ account is often linked to a substantial amount of personal information， including identity details like real names and ID numbers， as well as social connections and other sensitive private data. When an account is traded， malicious actors can exploit this information. They may impersonate the original account holder to send fraudulent messages to the account owner’s family and friends. For instance， scammers might claim the account owner is in an emergency and urgently needs money. Due to the trust placed in the familiar account， many recipients fall victim to these scams， resulting in financial losses for their loved ones.
3. Difficulty in Recovering Lost Accounts
According to the QQ User Agreement， the transfer， leasing， or sale of QQ accounts is strictly prohibited. Participation in such transactions can lead to the account being flagged by the system as a disputed account. This can result in account freezing or even permanent loss. Even if the original account owner wishes to reclaim their account， the involvement in a transaction dispute makes it exceedingly difficult to regain control through official channels， effectively rendering years of account usage and data irretrievable.
4. Risk of Becoming an Unwitting Accomplice
Engaging in account trading can also inadvertently implicate individuals in criminal activities， potentially falling under the charge of assisting in criminal activities via information networks (often referred to as “Bang Xin Zui” in Chinese legal context). If a traded account is subsequently used for illegal activities such as fraud or spreading illicit information， the original account owner， even without their knowledge， could be deemed an unwitting “tool” for criminals. This can lead to legal repercussions and leave a permanent mark on their personal history.
Tencent QQ strongly advises all users to enhance their awareness of these risks and to refrain from participating in the buying and selling of QQ accounts for the sake of minor gains. The platform emphasizes that protecting one’s digital identity and avoiding illicit transactions is paramount.
