No, There Isn't A Nintendo Switch Beta Program

You just want to dissuade people from applying to increase your chances of getting a beta unit!

In seriousness, I wonder how many have fallen for this scam so far?

Anyone ever heard of "too good to be true"?

Its sad this is news at all.

What would be the point in joining the beta if they don't give you any games to play on it anyway?

Pssssssssssh, seems legit.

It's a shame that stuff like this happens in the first place, hopefully the site ends up getting reported to whoever could possibly take care of it

People who do this crap need to be in prison

no beta, but here's a potential launch title that's coming out of left field. look at the launch date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsAtXnZSdxA

"Congratulation!"
...
Jeez Louise

Stupid is as stupid does. Still, this guy is a scumbag. Do authorities try and track down these vermin?

We all know Nintendo would do this.so I realm hope no one falls victim .to it

Hmmm. "assocaited" huh? where is the real @Damo is this article even real?

Not even a Nigerian prince could get his hands on a Switch before next year.

@Jamotello I'm holding out hope for SK3, but I'd be down for Peach Beach Splash.

"2 Switch Controller (Left and Right)"

They don't even know the official name of the controller. XD

Accounts on Instagram and Twitter do it as well.
I had one account (that liked one of my posts) on Twitter that had a post suggesting Switch Beta (among other scam give aways).
On Instagram I've been followed multiple times by accounts (or the same account returning after being banned) that suggested Switch Beta Giveaways.

@AlexSora89
Love the GIF!

You have won $5000! To claim this prize send us your credit card info as well as your birth certificate as proof of identity!

If it's to good to be true. It definitely is

"Your redemption code is your social security number. Just use it to log in and redeem the offer!"

Lol so many signs this is fake.

I am a Nigerian Princess, and I would love to share my wealth with you. Please send me your bank account and social security numbers so that we may prosper together!

@Ryu_Niiyama I was waiting for this one.

I saw this on instagram today too! They tried to follow me so I investigated a bit, but I could immediately tell that it was a scam. I hope there aren't any kids who may have signed up

@SLIGEACH_EIRE LMAO! I was surprised it wasn't the first comment. I couldn't resist after seeing that no one else snagged it.

You are chosen!

Kinda sad that outside JRPGs such epic announcements only happen in such contexts for the most part. XD

@Shard1
Thank you! I've been looking for a sarcastic GIF to comment upon Sanchez's audacity to believe we could believe him with.

@Nintendude789
2 Switch Controller ? Ahahahaha... XD

Congratulation! You are eligible to join the Nintendo Switch™ Beta Program! All your base are belong to us!

People, sign up. Give them your address, your social security number, and how to unlock your front door so they can drop into your house, install the Switch for you, so then it's ready to go when you get home.

NOTHING can go wrong. NOTHING at all.

I was sold at "Congratulation!"

@redivgamer90 exactly. They wouldn't even give you a discount for free.

I hope Nintendo takes them down fast! Those people are evil.

They should've done this via Social Media. The quality of English would fit right in and it would go undetected for longer.

EDIT: Ironically I had to edit my post as I got my grammar wrong! 😀

I'm stoked. I should receive my beta unit any day now. It didn't totally make sense to me why they would need my bank account info in order to send me the device, but whatever. I'll be playing Mario Switch any day now!

That first word "Congratulation" should tip everybody off.

I mean, if I was selected to take part in the Nintendo Switch beta program, I'd expect at least two Congratulations to take place.

He should be DDoS'd. Why do people feel the need to ride of others coattails?

Clearly this was written by the people who wrote the NES Ghostbusters credits sequence.

@TossedLlama Put your phone number on the Do Not Call registry, it helps a lot (and this is assuming your profile is correct in saying that you're from the US).

Remember kids. Proper grammar is essential to scam people.

So many scammers out there, everyone really needs to be vigilant and careful. For this particular one, if Nintendo was going to do this they would announce it on twitter/Facebook. If you don't see anything about it there, don't believe it.

I tend to get the Windows tech support scammers and the IRS scammers calling me. The IRS ones are ridiculous. I don't know how people who call them to waste their time manage to keep it together. This is how it almost always goes:
1. they have a thick, usually Indian accent with a western sounding name (like Bob, Mike, John);
2. they tell you the IRS has a lawsuit against you (the IRS doesn't do that);
3. that you have to pay immediately or you will be arrested (they don't do that either);
4. will tell you prepaid cards (usually iTunes) are acceptable means of paying off your debt to the IRS, and finally;
5. they will start cussing at you when they realize you know it's a scam and won't pay. XD

@GravyThief

You missed "their" on the "English" part.

@AlexSora89

Alex, I officially declare you to hold the title of Official Nintendo Life GIF King.

Long live the GIFs!

So would you say this was a....
Bait and Switch?

Oh wait, no, just bait

@Allspice Another thing to watch out per scammers, sometimes they'll say they'll give you money if you pay them first (and they will give you a larger check in the mail, to trick you into paying them a smaller amount as a 'fee' to transfer the rest of the money from their country to yours), but that check is a fake. It'll bounce or otherwise be invalid.

If you get a call scam (i.e. the IRS thing), you can usually type the phone number into Google, and there are some sites that report suspicious numbers. You can usually see that that number had been used to give the same scammer story to other people.

@DeltaPeng I've seen those types of scams too, although I haven't had any call me. I didn't know they went so far as to send actual fake checks though.

You can also report the number to the IRS. Some good news: a building in India was busted for running the IRS scam not too long ago. Around 70 people were arrested I think. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but it's a start.

As a side-note, if anyone is interested in learning about the various types of scams out there like these, check out HoaxHotel on YouTube. He makes excellent videos on all kinds of scammers. Very entertaining. Be aware that there is swearing though.

@Allspice I've mainly just heard about the fake checks (I haven't received them), but that is tricky because when you try to deposit it, your account might add the balance right away, but the actual check has to be processed before the money transfer is finalized. From my understanding, if it is fake, it takes a bit of time to process ( and therein lies a part of the problem for people who think it is legit), then the check bounces , the amount is removed from the account, and the person who tried to cash the check in is usually charged a fee.

I think in recent years this process has improved in banks (so that they do not state you have the value in your account until the check is actually approved, and they list that it is pending processing), and so hopefully it would not be harder to be tricked by a fake check.

I did not know about the IRS scammers being busted. That's good to hear. Particularly for when scams come from designated sources, like specific phone numbers, I'd assume there should be some way to trace and track down the scammers doing it (the issue may be privacy laws and the like). When it's clearly cases where people are trying to bait/trap others, though, it makes sense or perhaps could be a good change to enable local law enforcement to be able to track and forcibly shut down those operations (whether it be sending a warning and disabling phone numbers, closing/freezing suspicious bank accounts, etc).

@iGen works either way, actually.

@Jamotello Just imagine, the possibility of having both the mainline and spinoff games of SK, available on the Switch. The prospect is quite titillating.

I don't have a job yet, and these scammers need someone to write better copy.

Let me try:

Congratulations! We at Nintendo of Europe need beta testers to experience the newest Nintendo home console - The Nintendo Switch!

Send your credit card details, full name, and $20,000 in cold, hard cash and receive the system, a copy of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Switch, Metroid: Return of Samus Aran, F-Zero: Adventures of Captain Falcon, Mario Kart 8: Remastered, Splatoon 2, Project Sonic and every game you saw in the Switch trailer! Reggie Fils-Aime will also show up at your house and you get three wishes.

@GravyThief

No, it doesn't.

@iGen yes, it does. You have made the assumption I was making reference to the English of the person who wrote the scam. I.e. 'their' English. I wasn't. I was referring to 'the quality of English' of the scam itself. So from my perspective, in my post, it works. But thanks for trying to educate, always appreciated.

@GravyThief

You never made that clear. Therefore, it's on your head for not educating the public on your specific standpoint.

It still doesn't. Too bad.

@iGen
Wow that is one amazingly unexpected honor!

Watch out because I just got the message from Instagram! It seems that this faker has 2,756 followers and is following 818 people. Be careful out there