2:00pm Friday 10th September 2010
A PUBLIC awareness campaign is being launched to stop people being ripped off by conmen selling fraudulent cable TV equipment.
Virgin Media has almost completed the roll-out of a new encryption technology across its UK fibre optic cable network, which will result in making illegitimate set-top boxes and TV cards useless.
The technology is due to be introduced in Swindon this month and letters and new TV smart cards are now being sent to every Virgin Media TV subscriber explaining how to swap these for their existing cards.
If the card is not replaced the number of available channels will rapidly diminish over the coming weeks, before cutting off.
Malcolm Davies, Virgin Media’s head of UK fraud and security, said: “I urge anyone considering buying a dodgy cable box or a knock-off TV card to think again because they are needlessly throwing money away.
“The new encryption we’re introducing across Swindon this month will protect our existing customers and make it impossible for anyone else to get our services unless they pay for them legitimately.
“I know it’s embarrassing for anyone who has already been misled and conned by these sellers, but if they contact us we will try to help.”
Anyone who has been sold illegal cable TV equipment can call 0800 052 0962 in confidence.
Anyone with information about those supplying such equipment can call a confidential hotline on 0800 096 7800.
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