We all love online movies and shows, but finding a trustworthy website that doesn't cost an arm and a leg can be challenging. Some websites claim to offer free streaming, but they'll reward you with scams or viruses and steal your personal information. Unfortunately, most people don't realize they've been scammed until it's too late.
The hustle is this: scammers lure people with fake sports or movie streams. They want people to create an account and reveal their personal details, so they ask for information like name and email.
Some sites ask for your credit card details, even if it's free. Others trick people with a pop-up that says the stream costs $3.99. When you pay with your credit card, you get no stream. The scammers get $3.99 and may return to the well to charge your card repeatedly. Either way, you get nothing but trouble.
Read on for a list of well-known 'free' streaming scams. We'll also show you our list of red flags and tips to avoid the dangers.
What Is IPTV, and Is It Legal?
IPTV stands for "Internet Protocol Television," a technology that enables TV channels to broadcast on the internet. If the streaming service has a license to broadcast its content, it's legitimate and legal. If the streaming website has no license, they are breaking the law by providing the streaming service.
Watching an illegal broadcast is not, technically, unlawful, but if you share the links or content, you'll definitely be in trouble. Also, keep in mind that illegal streams are unreliable, low quality, and prone to vanishing overnight. On top of that, most of the so-called 'free' streaming sites are mere traps. Cybercriminals create them to scam you. Even worse, they can infect your devices with malware.
Some Examples of Streaming Scams
Most free streaming services are supported by ads. They don't charge you anything to watch their content, but they show you ads before, during, and after the show. The income from people who react to the ads helps to support the free streaming service. However, you may be taking risks if you pick a dangerous, illegitimate streaming service:
- Rip-off and fake streaming platform scams are websites pretending to be legitimate streaming platforms. They usually look slick and offer tons of good stuff for free. But they are actually designed to steal your information or infect your computer with malware. When you create an account, they steal your personal or financial data or redirect you to a download page containing harmful software. These websites may charge you fees for services that don't exist. They may also drive you nuts with ads or malicious pop-ups.
- A fake virus alert scam happens when a streaming website tricks you into believing your computer has a virus and asks you to download software to fix it. However, the software is actually malware that can harm your computer or steal your data. These scams often use fake logos from well-known antivirus programs. This helps them look credible.
- A malware scam is when a website offers you free streaming of a popular event. However, it redirects you to a page that contains malware to infect your device. Malware can show you incessant ads. It can also redirect your browser to other scam sites or porn. Additionally, it can spy on your activities.
- Phishing scams are when scammers send fake emails that look like they are from real streaming companies, like Hulu or Disney+. They trick you into giving away your personal information or money.
Red Flags: How to Spot Streaming Scams
So, is there a way to spot these scams? Here are some points that you should pay attention to:
- The website pretends to be a company that you're familiar with but has a different or misspelled URL. There could be subtle differences in design, logos, or links. You may see some spelling or grammar mistakes and broken graphics or images.
- They scare you with a problem, promise a prize, and pressure you to act fast.
- They want payment with a specific payment method like a gift card or ask for your credit card even if it says free.
- The site only supports a few types of devices and requires you to download and install their software manually.
- The video quality is poor. When you get tired of all your favorite characters looking like an elephant's knee on-screen, they may try to bait you into paying a fee or downloading their software to improve the quality.
- They offer movies still showing in theaters that have yet to be released for other distribution channels.
- There's no address or support number, or the number doesn't exist.
- They use an anonymous hosting service that hides the site owner's identity. Often, the site doesn't have a security certificate, meaning your data is not encrypted or protected.
Tips on How to Avoid These Scams
The internet is terrific but can be dangerous. Scammers lurk everywhere, including on free streaming sites. Remember to block pop-ups while you're surfing the internet. Ads may contain malware or phishing links. A VPN with a link checker can block annoying and potentially dangerous ads or pop-ups. It can also prevent you from inadvertently landing on a malicious site.
Using your mobile, tablet, or smart TV on these sites can be unsafe. Smartphones and other smart devices are at risk from various cyber threats. Hundreds of fake, malicious mobile apps exist in the Play and Apple App Stores. Do some background research on the company before you create an account. Check the support numbers and address, and read online reviews on trusted sites.
Also, remember that there are always safer solutions than illegal streaming sites. For instance, if you have a Netflix subscription but want to watch content only available in the USA, you can easily switch to American VPN servers to access a full USA content menu, including TV shows and sports.
If, by wanting to avoid the hassle, you choose riskier options and get scammed, contact your bank and put a block on your card. Report the scam to the appropriate authorities, and flag the site on your search engine. Companies like Google take the threats by these scammers seriously and work hard to block scam sites.