‘Piracy’ Scam Exploiting Movie Fans for Two Decades Now Labeled as Major Risk
Published on November 25, 2024
- Movie streaming scams that have been ongoing for years are currently part of anti-piracy discussions in Europe and the Philippines.
- These frauds defund victims by claiming to offer legitimate downloadable or streaming content that’s not delivered.
- Recent Motion Picture Association-funded reports classify these scams as copyright-infringing instead.
A persistent online scam targeting movie enthusiasts has resurfaced and is categorized as a significant piracy threat. Studies like “Consumer Risk from Piracy in Poland” and its Philippines counterpart categorize these services as a new type of piracy-related threat, citing cybersecurity risks and potential exploitation of consumer payments.
Although these scams have operated unchecked for decades, recent reports funded by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) have highlighted their dangers. Curiously, these fraudulent piracy sites are now being discussed in the same context as traditional pirate sites.
This raises questions as the operations of these platforms deviate significantly—they mimic legitimate platforms rather than distributing pirated content. The overlapping definitions provided in the studies further complicate efforts to address the issue effectively.
Acknowledging scam platforms as significant threats aligns with broader anti-piracy advocacy efforts, such as the push to implement site-blocking measures globally. However, critics argue that law enforcement agencies should have initiated actions targeting these fraudulent services long before now.
The sudden inclusion of "Fraudulent Piracy Sites" in policy recommendations appears to bolster lobbying efforts for expanded anti-piracy legislation, like administrative site-blocking programs in Poland and the Philippines. However, questions remain regarding their categorization as pirate sites, as no precedent exists for blocking such platforms under traditional anti-piracy frameworks.
Source: Motion Picture Association
For over 20 years, fraudulent websites claiming to offer legitimate downloadable or streaming content have exploited unsuspecting individuals—pirates and regular customers. This widespread deception deprives consumers of content and traps them in involuntary subscription schemes, generating billions of dollars for scammers.
Initially emerging in the early 2000s, these scams rode the wave of increasing internet speeds, masquerading as legitimate services offering "premium" content. Promises of faster downloads, extensive digital libraries, or unlimited streaming access at bargain prices enticed users.
However, the reality was starkly different—nonexistent content, unreasonably complex cancellation processes, and excessive charges were common outcomes.
The tactics evolved over the years, with many sites presenting a thin veneer of legitimacy by providing access to obscure, low-value content. Despite their fraudulent nature, these platforms preyed on individuals willing to pay for licensed content, effectively blurring the lines between legitimate services and piracy.
As these reports gain traction, concerns arise about their long-term implications. Once legitimate pirate sites are blocked in targeted regions, these fraudulent platforms could see a surge in traffic, perpetuating the exploitation of vulnerable consumers.
Without clearly defined policies and adequate transparency, addressing the root cause—the scams themselves—risks being sidestepped under the guise of anti-piracy efforts.
Meanwhile, Google is criticized in European countries for apparently failing to take action on pirate website takedown notices due to the tech giant’s reluctance to heed such requests based on what the company believes are abusive demands.
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