Scammers are attempting to take advantage of My5’s registration process to get users to pay to register to watch Channel 5 online.
Channel 5 has warned viewers that some QR code reader apps are directing viewers to fake websites that demand a fee for registering a My5 account.
Channel 5 became the last of the main free-to-air broadcasters to require users to register to access its streaming service.
But scammers are understood to have taken advantage of the QR code option offered to viewers wanting to register to access My5 on large screen devices, including TVs.
Channel 5 has reminded viewers that My5 is a “100% free service”.
It is advising viewers:
“If you are asked to pay a fee then you are not on the official My5 site and you should not continue.”
My5 offers viewers the opportunity to watch shows on-demand from across Channel 5’s family of channels, including 5ACTION, 5STAR and 5USA. Popular shows include All Creatures Great and Small, The Madame Blanc Mysteries and psychological thriller The Catch.
To ensure viewers wanting to register aren’t scammed, Channel 5 recommends “only using the built-in QR reader in Apple IOS or Android with Lens enabled.”
The registration process also asks for your postcode and date of birth. This information will enable Channel 5 to offer targeted advertising. Date of birth is also used to ensure you’re old enough, although what you enter isn’t verified.
However, this extra information would hand over even more valuable details to scammers if input on a fake website.
INSTRUCTIONS: How to register for a free My5 account
Official guide from Channel 5 (external link – UK users only)
My5.tv or Channel5.com?
My5 originally started off using the domain name “www.my5.tv”. Some official references still mention this address. However, Channel 5 is now combining its websites, so that users going to my5.tv will be directed to the main Channel5.com domain.
This brings Channel 5 in line with the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, which run their streaming services and registration pages on their main domain. For example, itvx.com redirects to itv.com.
Marc Thornham