My Nintendo Store Chaos: Switch 2 Pre-Order Lottery Scammers Exploit Desperate Users in Japan

For Nintendo enthusiasts in Japan, April 24, 2025, marks a significant date as Nintendo unveils the fortunate winners of the Switch 2 pre-order lottery through the official My Nintendo Store. The overwhelming demand, however, led to the My Nintendo Store website being taken offline for maintenance due to excessive traffic. Alongside this, Nintendo issued a crucial warning about phishing emails that deceitfully mimic official Switch 2 pre-order lottery results.

On April 2, Nintendo initiated the application process for the Switch 2 pre-order lottery in Japan, with winners gaining the opportunity to purchase the console from My Nintendo Store, set for delivery on the launch date of June 5.

According to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa’s message from the previous day, an astounding 2.2 million individuals in Japan participated in the first Switch 2 presale lottery. This demand far surpassed Nintendo’s expectations, indicating that many hopefuls will be disappointed in their quest to secure the console on launch day.

As the results of the first Switch 2 presale lottery were released today, the rush to access Japan's My Nintendo Store overwhelmed the site, forcing Nintendo to take it offline for maintenance. This frenzy also provided an opportunity for scammers, who capitalized on the excitement by circulating fake lottery results.

Japanese-speaking users on X (formerly Twitter) have been proactive in raising awareness, sharing screenshots of fraudulent emails and highlighting various scam variations. These deceptive emails, with subject lines proclaiming "You have won the Switch 2 lottery," are designed to trick eager fans into clicking on suspicious links or making immediate payments through dubious URLs. The phishing attempts range from easily identifiable fakes loaded with emojis to more sophisticated scams that only betray themselves through minor errors like misspellings of "Nintendo" in email addresses and the use of non-Japanese URLs.

The official warning from the Japanese Nintendo Support account clarifies, “Although we plan to send out the lottery result emails today (April 24), we have not sent them yet. Please be aware that any such emails that you have received up until now were not sent by Nintendo.”

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In the United States, Nintendo’s website has updated information regarding release-day delivery, cautioning those who registered interest in purchasing a Switch 2 from My Nintendo Store that delivery by the June 5 release date cannot be guaranteed. As a result, invitation emails may arrive after the Switch 2 launch. However, Nintendo assures buyers that they will confirm the shipping date upon purchase. The company now suggests that securing a Switch 2 at launch might be more feasible by pre-ordering from third-party retailers, a recommendation that comes amidst reports of the console selling out shortly after pre-orders opened overnight.

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

According to a FAQ posted to Nintendo’s website, the first batch of invitations for the My Nintendo Store in the U.S. will be sent starting May 8, 2025. Subsequent batches of invitation emails will be dispatched "periodically" until purchasing is opened to everyone.

Initial invitation emails will be sent on a first-come, first-served basis to "eligible registrants who meet the priority criteria." Recipients 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 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.