The Counter-Strike 2 community raises concerns over lookalike items in the game “Plumber’s Legacy”.
A Reddit post from user Key-Appearance-7257 has brought attention to a troubling new scam targeting Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) players on Steam. The scheme involves a game titled “Plumber’s Legacy”, which is allegedly using near-identical replicas of CS2’s most iconic items – misleading players into fraudulent trades.
A New Type of Scam Hits the CS2 Trading Community
According to the Reddit post, the developers of Plumber’s Legacy have created trading cards and in-game cosmetics that directly mimic Valve’s proprietary CS2 assets. The most egregious example cited is a counterfeit version of the Butterfly Knife | Marble Fade, a highly recognizable and valuable skin in the CS2 community.
“One notable example is an imitation of the ‘Butterfly Knife | Marble Fade,’ which replicates the name, artwork, and product description of the original Valve asset,” the post states.
These imitation items are being used by malicious actors to pose as legitimate CS2 skins, exploiting the visual and naming similarities to scam unsuspecting players via Steam’s trading system.
Community Reactions: Shock, Frustration, and Action
The Reddit thread quickly gained traction, with users expressing disbelief and offering suggestions on how to report the issue:
- Middle_Worker_9243: “This isn't new. I would recommend reporting the game by going to the store page, and clicking on the little flag icon. You can mark it as ‘fraud’ and describe the issue.”
- ShadowsinPie: “Imagine making a game that clearly breaks copyright to some degree just to scam people. They would have already made back the money with a decent side hustle with all the time they used up, lmao.”
Valve Yet To Respond
What makes the scam especially confusing is the fact that both Counter-Strike and Steam are products of Valve, creating a misleading sense of legitimacy. The scam relies on this association to build false trust in the counterfeit items, potentially causing real financial loss to users who mistake these knock offs for genuine CS2 gear.
As of July 2, Plumber’s Legacy remains live on the Steam store, and Valve has not issued an official statement on the matter. It’s unclear whether the company is currently investigating the claims, although the original Reddit poster has confirmed they’ve submitted a formal report through official channels.
How To Protect Yourself
This incident serves as a stark reminder that even on well-known platforms, visual similarity is not enough to verify item legitimacy. Players are encouraged to:
- Inspect items carefully before confirming trades
- Avoid unfamiliar games that feature unusually familiar items
- Use Steam’s reporting tools to flag suspicious activity
With high-value CS2 items becoming increasingly lucrative, scammers are finding new, more sophisticated ways to exploit the system. Valve now faces growing pressure to tighten oversight on the platform and prevent these kinds of loopholes from undermining the trust of its massive player base.
Until further notice, traders should treat unfamiliar items – even familiar-looking ones – with extreme caution.