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Making Ends Meet: How scammers target smart TVs

Here are some tips to help you avoid being scammed while using streaming apps

ST. LOUIS — We want you to hang on to your money, especially as we inch closer to the holidays. The Better Business Bureau is warning of a scam that could be targeting your smart TV.  It’s just another way scammers are harming people trying to make ends meet.

5 On Your Side’s Michelle Li got a call from a concerned viewer named Michael. He said he got an email about renewing his subscription to Roku. His friend got contacted about the same thing. 

"I believe this is a scam. So, you might want to put it on your news to inform the public," he said.

Turns out, this scam is rampant enough to have both Roku and the Better Business Bureau responding. Rachel Wetzel is the Director of Communications at the St. Louis BBB.

“So essentially it's a new twist on a tech scam,” Wetzel said.

We're used to seeing pop-ups on our computers, but now scams are coming in through our TVs.  It can be confusing and convincing for customers.

“You get a pop-up on your TV that says 'there's a discrepancy, you need to call this number or click this link'. And then whenever you call the number, you get a customer service agent and they say, 'Oh there's an activation or a registration fee that you have to pay,'" Wetzel said. "Once again, sounding very convincing and so you just go along with it. But you're ending up giving your information to a scammer and so they've now got your credit card number, your debit card number.”

The BBB has some tips on how to avoid any smart TV scams:

  • Double-check any fees you are asked to pay. A quick online search will tell you Roku never charges an activation fee.
  • Don't fall for fake websites. Scammers love making imitation websites that are just one or two letters off from the real thing.
  • Never let anyone control your device remotely. Scammers often do this with computers, but your smart TV is just vulnerable.

The BBB offers this easy tip.

"If you are on Roku or Netflix or whatever it may be, go and type in the URL yourself. Do not click on that link,” said Wentzel.

She said the biggest thing streaming customers should remember is any device that's connected to the internet opens the doors for scammers to be able to get to us.

For more information, visit the BBB's website.

   

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