Greg's Corner

Beware of Fake Sports Live Streams

By Greg Collier

As the excitement of high school sports ramps up this fall, scammers are seizing the opportunity to prey on unsuspecting fans. From volleyball to football, fraudulent live stream offers are becoming a common tactic to steal personal information and money. Understanding how these scams operate can help you stay one step ahead and protect your financial security.

In Jonesboro, Arkansas, high school volleyball fans recently fell victim to a scam involving a fake social media profile. The account, masquerading as the Arkansas Activities Association, claimed to livestream games for local schools. Fans eager to support their teams were directed to links requiring payment, only to discover that no game was being streamed. Instead, their credit card information was captured by the scammers.

Similarly, in Birmingham, Alabama, high school football fans are being targeted with fake live stream links. Scammers are capitalizing on the enthusiasm surrounding Friday night football, advertising streams that don’t exist or are of such poor quality that they’re not worth the money. Worse, once these fans enter their payment information, they often find themselves subscribed to a service that continually charges them without delivering the promised content.

The mechanics of these scams are alarmingly simple. Scammers create fake social media profiles that appear legitimate by mimicking official school or athletic association accounts. These profiles then post links claiming to offer live streams of sports events. Eager to watch, fans click on the links and are asked to enter their payment information. Once the payment is processed, the promised stream either doesn’t exist or is of such low quality that it’s unwatchable. Meanwhile, the scammers have already gained access to the victims’ financial information.

As these cases illustrate, vigilance is key to avoiding sports live stream scams. Here are some tips to keep in mind. Always confirm that the live stream is being offered by an official school or athletic association account. If in doubt, contact the school’s athletic department directly.

Most legitimate high school sports live streams are free or require minimal payment through recognized platforms. If a site requests your credit card information, it’s a major red flag.

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but by staying informed and cautious, you can enjoy your favorite high school sports without falling victim to their tactics. Remember, when in doubt, trust only official sources and verify before you pay.