Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is continuing the Summer Scams Series with a warning about an emerging smart TV scam.
In this new scheme, fraudsters attempt to gain remote access to a target’s smart TV to steal personal or financial information.
The Better Business Bureau warns of an increase in reports of scammers catching people off guard with fraudulent pop-ups on smart TVs. The pop-ups trick users into downloading malware, paying a fake fee or even giving away sensitive information.
“Devices connected to the internet can be used by scammers to rip off unsuspecting consumers. Smart TVs are no exception. These devices access the internet to stream content or allow users to search the web. That means hackers can use your TV to send phishing messages, tech-support ads or even fake bills for services. If you receive a suspicious message on your TV, do not respond. Instead, do some research and contact your service provider directly,” Moody said.
Smart TV scams are a type of online scam that targets users of smart TVs. These scams typically involve fake pop-ups that appear when users are trying to stream content on their TV. The pop-ups will often claim that there is a problem with the user’s streaming service or device, and that they need to call a phone number or visit a website to fix it.
If the user calls the phone number, they will be connected to a scammer posing as a customer service representative. The scammer will then try to convince the user to pay an activation fee or grant them remote access to their TV. If the user pays the fee, the scammer will get their credit or debit card number. If they give the scammer remote access to their TV, the scammer may install malware on the TV and use it to gain access to sensitive personal information.
Here are some tips to help you avoid smart TV scams:
- Never click on links or open pop-ups that appear on your smart TV. These links and pop-ups may be malicious and could infect your TV with malware.
- If you see a pop-up that claims there is a problem with your streaming service or device, contact the streaming service or device manufacturer directly using the contact information on their website. Do not call the phone number or visit the website that is listed in the pop-up.
- Never grant remote access to your smart TV to anyone you do not know and trust. Scammers may ask for remote access to your TV so that they can install malware or steal your personal information.
- Keep your smart TV’s software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect your TV from malware.
If you think you have been scammed, you should contact your credit card company and file a fraud report. You should also contact the streaming service or device manufacturer and let them know about the scam.
Here are some additional tips to help you protect yourself from smart TV scams:
- Use a strong password for your smart TV. This will make it more difficult for scammers to gain access to your TV.
- Enable two-factor authentication for your smart TV. This will add an extra layer of security to your account.
- Be careful about what information you share on social media. Scammers may use information that you share on social media to target you with scams.
- Keep your smart TV’s software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect your TV from malware.
Victims of cybercrimes should report incidents to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Computer Crime Center.
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