CHARLOTTE — If you can’t make it to your child’s big game, you can probably find it streamed online. But a new warning from the Better Business Bureau says to be careful where you focus.
When COVID-19 prevented people from going to high school athletic fields, more websites sprung up and began offering online streams of local sports games. We’ve noticed that some fans now prefer to watch from their computers or mobile phones.
“My son plays out of state a lot, so we watch him,” one parent told Boston’s Channel 9 sister station.
However, there are scammers among the legitimate streaming websites. Experts say social media is full of fake websites masquerading as real streaming services.
[ RELATED >> Channel 9’s High School Football Scoreboard ]
Viewers typically scour the school’s social media pages to find comments that appear to be other fans sharing links to the game. Although the post looks legitimate, the next screen asks for personal information and credit card information.
The Better Business Bureau says these fraudulent sites are on the rise.
Here’s what you can do to make sure your stream is real:
- First, contact your school, district, or league directly for official links.
- Please check third-party websites before making payments or entering personal information.
- Please pay with a credit card instead of a debit card in case you need to dispute the payment.
- Please make sure the site is secure. You can tell if the address starts with HTTPS://. (S is the important part.)
- Be careful when clicking on links in social media posts, unsolicited text messages, and emails.
(WATCH: Local broadcasters ask Congress for streaming reform)
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