My Nintendo Store Chaos: Switch 2 Pre-Order Lottery Scammers Emerge

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date as Nintendo announces the winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the My Nintendo Store. The excitement led to such high traffic that the My Nintendo Store website had to be taken offline for maintenance. Additionally, Nintendo issued a warning about phishing emails that falsely claim to be official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.

Nintendo began accepting applications for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery on April 2, with the winners gaining the opportunity to purchase the console at its launch on June 5. In a message from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, it was revealed that approximately 2.2 million people in Japan participated in the first lottery, a number that far exceeded Nintendo's expectations. This overwhelming demand means that many hopefuls will not secure a console on launch day.

As the first Switch 2 presale lottery results were released on April 24, the rush to access the My Nintendo Store in Japan caused the site to be taken offline for maintenance. This frenzy was exploited by scammers who sent out fake lottery result emails. Japanese-speaking users on X shared screenshots of these fraudulent emails, highlighting various scam variations. These emails often featured subject lines like “You have won the Switch 2 lottery,” which could easily excite unsuspecting fans. The phishing emails typically included requests to click on a LINE messenger app link or to make a payment via a suspicious URL, urging immediate action to secure the console.

The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarified that no lottery result emails had been sent out by April 24, and any received prior to that date 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 on the June 5 release date could not be guaranteed. Invitation emails might arrive after the console's launch, but Nintendo assured that the shipping date would be confirmed upon purchase. Nintendo suggested that pre-ordering from third-party retailers might offer a better chance of securing a Switch 2 at launch, despite the console already being sold out following the overnight pre-order rush.

The challenges faced by fans on April 24, combined with Nintendo's warning, suggest that obtaining the next-gen console around its launch will be difficult.

According to a 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 sent "periodically" until the store opens to everyone. Initial invitations will be sent on a first-come, first-serve basis to "eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria," and invitees will have 72 hours to complete their purchase.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order invitation priority requirements:

• You must have purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership.
• You must have maintained any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for at least 12 months.
• You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have accumulated at least 50 hours of total gameplay.