If you’ve been desperate to see Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, his adaptation of Homer’s Greek poem The Odyssey, you’re not alone. The blockbuster has been drawing large audiences to movie theaters, with many people waiting to see it at a later date.
Scammers are taking advantage of the movie’s popularity. They’ve been posting targeted ads claiming to have a link to watch the film for free via a free trial of a streaming service. If the person clicks through, they risk giving away personal information and even money.
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Here’s how the Odyssey movie scams work and how to avoid them.
How Odyssey Movie Scams Work
The scam is fairly simple. It relies on people being desperate to watch the movie without having to head to a matinee show when they’re supposed to be at work. Ads are posted with specific targeting, aimed at people who have been searching for the movie or similar topics. The ads may also use geolocation data, so they can appear in any language based on the location the person is browsing from.
The advertisement may lead to a fake “streaming service” or movie site that promises to have The Odyssey available to watch immediately. You can supposedly watch it for free, as long as you set up a new account.
Here’s where the scam starts: You click the link and start the process to begin this free trial. You enter personal details like your name, address, phone number, and more. Then, the app or site asks for your payment details. It will reassure you that this isn’t for now, but for if you decide to keep the service after the free trial.
The sign-up form is actually a phishing mechanism designed to steal your information. The scammers now have:
- Your payment/card details
- Personal information
- A login username and password that you may have used elsewhere
This is information they can potentially use to perpetrate further scams, steal funds, or commit identity fraud. You never get to watch your movie, and the site will likely stop working once you’ve inputted your final piece of information.
How to Spot and Avoid Odyssey Movie Scams
The simple fact is that you can’t watch major movies for free online via streaming services that you pay for. There are illegal streaming services out there, but they should be avoided because unofficial streaming and download sites can expose users to malware, malicious ads, and phishing scams.
Don’t click on ads purporting to offer newly released movies or TV shows for free. Never give your personal details to this type of site, even if it has good reviews, as these can easily be faked.
Scams like these are evolving all the time. Sign up for Scam Detector’s Scam Alerts to stay up to date with the latest attempts by scammers to steal your personal information and money.
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