Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order Chaos: Scammers Exploit Desperate Fans in Japan

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date as Nintendo is set to announce the fortunate winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. However, the overwhelming traffic led to the website undergoing maintenance, and Nintendo issued a crucial warning about phishing emails that falsely claim to reveal the lottery results for the Switch 2.

The pre-order lottery for the Switch 2 began on April 2, offering winners the chance to secure the console for delivery on its launch date, June 5. In a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million people entered the first lottery in Japan, surpassing the company's expectations and leaving many fans disappointed as not everyone will secure a console on launch day.

As the results of the initial lottery were eagerly awaited on April 24, the surge in traffic necessitated the temporary shutdown of the My Nintendo Store for maintenance. Concurrently, scammers capitalized on the excitement by sending out fraudulent lottery results.

Users on X (formerly Twitter) shared warnings and screenshots of these deceptive emails, which varied from obvious scams filled with emojis to more sophisticated attempts with minor errors like misspellings in email addresses and non-Japanese URLs. These emails typically urged recipients to click on a LINE messenger app link or make a payment through a dubious URL to secure their Switch 2.

The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarified that no lottery result emails had been sent out yet, despite plans to do so on April 24, and any emails received prior to this were not from Nintendo.

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In the U.S., Nintendo updated its website to inform those interested in purchasing a Switch 2 from the My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date could not be guaranteed. This means that invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch, though Nintendo will confirm shipping dates upon purchase. The company suggested that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance of obtaining a Switch 2 at launch, despite these options selling out quickly.

The challenges faced by fans trying to pre-order the Switch 2 on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warnings, indicate that securing the next-gen console will be difficult around its launch period.

According to an FAQ on Nintendo's website, the first batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will be sent starting May 8, 2025, with additional batches following periodically until purchasing is open to everyone. These initial invitations will be sent on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible registrants who meet specific priority criteria. Invitees will have 72 hours from the time the email is sent to complete their purchase.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invitation priority requirements:

• You must have been the one who purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have had any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months.
• You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have at least 50 hours total gameplay hours.