Battlegrounds Mobile India, the new avatar of
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds mobile (PUBG Mobile), will start pre-registrations
from Tuesday. Prior to the official announcement, however, several fake
links to download or pre-register for the game are reportedly floating around
the Internet.

While Krafton, the developer, has not officially revealed
the launch date of the game, hackers and fraudsters are taking
advantage of the hype, trying to rope in fans for malicious purposes.

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The fake links or APK files which are currently online are
most likely files that could do significant damage to the device as well as
one’s personal data post-download.

Krafton, at the time of its reveal, had noted that the game
will have a period of pre-registration before the launch, which will go live on
Android via only Google Play Store.

The title has not gone through the pre-registration period or
even beta testing till now. APK download links, therefore, are a clear attempt
at duping users.

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Battlegrounds Mobile India will see a battle royale setting
similar to PUBG Mobile India, with 100 players being deployed into a controlled
environment wherein the last one to survive will be crowned the winner.

Due to links to Chinese company TenCent Games, PUBG Mobile
was banned in India back in September, 2020. Weeks later, PUBG cut ties with
Tencent in India, and subsequently partnered with Krafton to remake and relaunch
the hugely popular game in India.