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Users Conned by Cable Con

Posted by timothy on from the nelson-laughs dept.

RJ Mansfield writes "MSNBC is running a story on users attempting to con their cable companies being connned. The high-cost filter being sold on Ebay and through email Spam to bypass Pay-Per-View (PPV) digital cable systems is a readily available filter that only temporarily blocks the PPV charges. Users are getting shocked when the cable company then bills the cable user for all of the ordered PPV."

9 of 442 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds fair to me by Spytap · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sounds fair to me, but knowing the type of people who do this, their first reaction is going to be one of "What a second! We weren't told about this!! We were busy reaching around your jacket to get your wallet, we didn't know that you were grabbing ours in the process!"

    1. Re:Sounds fair to me by Gleef · · Score: 5, Insightful

      WegianWarrior asks:

      I am however puzzled over one simple fact; can it really be legal in the USofA (where I presume this is happening) to sell such a device? Over here (Norway for those who don't get the clue from my nick) it would be quite illegal to sell something which is intended to allow the (l)user to break the law.

      In the USA it is and it isn't. My understanding is, in most states, it is illegal to sell something for the purpose of committing a crime. As a corrolary to this, it is illegal to use criminal activities as selling point when making a sale. This makes the spam and many of the auctions illegal. It doesn't make selling the device illegal, you just have to limit yourself to the legal uses (filtering non-cabletv signals over coax).

      Another example is the crowbar. If you work at a hardware store, and someone wants to buy one, you can assume they want to use it for legal purposes and legally sell it to them. If, however, they come to the counter talking about using it in a burglary or assault, you can not legally sell it. Likewise, you can't put a sign up advertising the "Crowmaster 2000, busts neighbors locks 30% faster" and continue to sell the product legally.

      Some state laws may vary. I am not a lawyer, the above should not be considered legal advice.

      --

      ----
      Open mind, insert foot.
  2. A single tear rolls down my cheek by davmoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wahhh!! That's so sad!! I need some tissue to dry away the tears!!

    Not.

    Anyone who is stupid enough to buy one of these devices is getting what they deserve. If you want the premium channels, then pay for them. If you think the cable company charges too much, then complain to them and rent DVDs. But that doesn't give you any right to steal the programming.

    --
    I want a new quote. One that won't spill. One that don't cost too much. Or come in a pill.
    1. Re:A single tear rolls down my cheek by jkrise · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Actually, it sounds like a good business model. Instead of making a superior product, it's better to build a lousy one, devise a con tool, anti-virus, anti-spam whatever.

      Sell it to as many suckers as possible. When you reach a critical mass, devise a tool to kill the first product and milk the buggers dry.

      X-Box modders watch out as well.

      How much does the spirit of an 800lb gorilla weigh?

      --
      If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
  3. This is great! by Buzz_Litebeer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I just read the article, and the people are getting charged HUGE bills for watching TV that they didnt pay for, live, while it was being broadcast.

    Hey they watched pay per veiw, a service that has been around a while and been accepted as being viable, and they are being told to pay for it. They dont even have ground to complain, it would be like getting robbed by a drug dealer who gave you bad drugs!

    "well officer, I was trying to by some cocaine, and i found out that it was 50% sugar!"

    I just find it funny some people are complaining about about being "cheated" by the product.

    --
    If you don't vote, you don't matter, so don't waste your time telling me your opinion
  4. It's all one big plot! by razormage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And two years from now, the RIAA charges everyone that's been using Napster/Kazaa/Morpheus/Gnutella/Etc for all the music they've "bought".

  5. Re:LOL by UPi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As clearly stated in the Acts of Gord: Think, then steal! Think, then steal! Not the other way around!

    Seriously: This type of scam works because subscribers don't understand how the system works. If you advertised a device which will allow you to pay no taxes, everyone would catch on quickly.

    I can see it now... "For $10 you don't need to file your taxes anymore! The deal of the century!..."

  6. Re:You Can't Cheat An Honest Man by thunderbee · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Action is taken against filesharers regardless of shared content. If the action is taken against them just because they are running a file sharing program, it is wrong. There are legal and honest uses to such programs. That's the difference I guess (at least, that's the difference I make).

    --
    In my opinion, Scientology is a cult you should avoid.
  7. GPL by Interfacer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think a lot of /.ers suffer from hypocrisy.

    it is ok to con the PPV channel.
    it is ok to con the music industry
    it is ok to con Microsoft by copying all their software (for those of you who use it)

    but when someone else (other article some time ago) violates the GPL by not opening their code, you rant and rave about 'theft'.

    seriously, it is all the same.
    the only difference is POV.

    Int.