INDIANAPOLIS -- Just over two weeks from the start of high school football across Indiana, security experts are warning about an increase in scams that impersonate streaming sites for high school sports teams.
Every year, more school districts and boosters are making games available to watch online. And just like any trend, scammers are following along.
The Better Business Bureau says savvy crooks are posting links that look like they’ll take you to the game, but it’s a trap. Typically, the bad guys will go on social media and post a link to a streaming site that claims you can watch the game. They’ll tag the school, team mascot and other things to make it look like it’s an official page sanctioned by the athletic department.
Click the link and it will take you to a website that promises coverage of the game. However, you can only get access to the livestream after you fill out some personal information and maybe your credit card number.
There’s your red flag.
A legitimate streaming site is unlikely to charge you money, since many of them are sponsored by the school or boosters. The sites may have ads to bring in revenue, but if you’re being asked to enter your credit card information, you should avoid it.
In most cases, real streaming sites will be linked to your school district’s website and/or athletics department. If the site you're looking at isn’t, it’s a good idea to check with your school and ask if the games are available online. If so, where?
The BBB also recommends these tips to stay safe:
- Research any website before paying any money or entering any information. Check the company’s BBB Business Profile at BBB.org.
- Pay by credit card whenever possible if you need to challenge the payment.
- Check a site’s security settings. If the site is secure, its URL (web address) should start with “HTTPS://.” You may also see a picture of a small closed lock in the screen's lower right-hand corner.
- Confirm the site you're visiting is legitimate. Scammers can create fake, realistic websites to trick consumers into thinking they're on the right webpage. Read BBB's tips on identifying a fake website.
- Be cautious before clicking links included in social media posts, unsolicited text messages, or emails. Clicking on unfamiliar links can place you at risk for malware or identity theft.