People in the UK who illegally stream movies, sport and TV shows online are being warned they risk having their bank accounts emptied or their identities stolen.
A major new awareness campaign has just been launched to highlight the various dangers associated with using illicit streaming services to watch paid-for content.
But, say experts, it is not just the fact you could find that the credit card you used to sign up to a “service” or pay to watch the big game has been used to make multiple fraudulent transactions, or that criminals may install malware, access your bank account or steal personal information.
The campaign also points out that people who watch pirate content can be – and are – visited by the police at their homes, and can even be prosecuted and sent to prison.
The cost of living crisis has seen growing numbers of people hunt for free or cheap ways of viewing the latest films, football matches and hot TV shows, with many taking the view that illegal streaming is a “grey area” or victimless crime.
Now a campaign called BeStreamWise, with the slogan “Illegal streams let criminals in”, has gone live.
There is a website (bestreamwise.com), plus posters on London Underground and at other locations, and a short film that has already been viewed more than 500,000 times online. The film shows a man watching football on a laptop as sinister hands reach out from the screen to grab his bank cards, account numbers and other private information.
The campaign has the backing of organisations and companies including the government’s Intellectual Property Office, Crimestoppers, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact), ITV, Sky and the Premier League.
Those behind the initiative say illegal streaming services “are increasingly operated by sophisticated criminal networks” that are often involved in other types of crime.
There are a number of ways of accessing unauthorised content, from free streaming sites to apps, TV sticks and modified boxes. However, the campaign says you are at risk of having malware installed and getting scammed or hacked.
The British Association for Screen Entertainment (Base) says: “Our research has shown that those who view films, TV shows or sports fixtures through illegal streams increasingly report serious repercussions such as viruses, scams and personal data breaches.”
The risk of being exposed to fraud and data theft “increases significantly” when users hand over their credit or debit card details to pay for illegal content, says the campaign. It adds that a recent study found that of 50 illegal streaming sites analysed, 90% were classified as risky.
Jenny Radcliffe, a social engineer and “people hacker” enlisted by the campaign, says: “Whether it’s multiple charges to credit cards, installing malware on devices, accessing bank accounts or stealing personal information such as emails, messages, contacts, photographs, documents and browsing history, engaging in illegal streaming makes you a prime target for professional fraudsters.”
She adds that because these activities are illegal, victims may have little or no recourse for recovering their losses “and may even face criminal charges themselves”.
In June, a US-based organisation called the Digital Citizens Alliance said its investigation found that people who used a credit card to sign up to illegal streaming services faced a “serious risk” of being hit with unauthorised charges on their account. Within weeks of signing up for 20 services, the group’s credit card was targeted for $1,495 (£1,240) in illicit purchases and transactions, many of which appeared to originate from China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Lithuania.
As part of the UK initiative, BeStreamWise created “Mal Streams”, a spoof brand designed to imitate illegal streaming services, and set up a stand at London’s Paddington rail station offering commuters a too-good-to-be-true deal: unlimited free access to TV, film and sports content for life.
Many passersby were willing to register for the service using their phone or device and submit their personal information – including their name, address, contact and financial details – to access the deal.
It is worth being aware you could get a knock on the door from the authorities if the illegal streaming service you use finds itself under investigation.
In January this year, officials from Fact and the police visited homes across the UK to issue warning notices to people ordering them to stop streaming immediately or risk prosecution. More than 1,000 individuals had been identified after raids by West Mercia police against a UK-based illegal streaming service.
