I guess someone using our IP address downloaded some stuff off the internet. Now we got these emails forwarded from our internet provider saying we need to pay a fine. $200 is one fine. Do we have to pay these fines? Are we going to be chased and end up in jail.
I've gotten several of these from Com.cast and our former provider. They have actually had the name of the movie and song in them. I ignored them. Our letter said we had to delete them or it happened again we would pay a fine. No idea if they were legit but the first one we got was like 5 years ago.
Unlike in the US, the internet service providers are not legally allowed to share your information with the companies who own the rights to shows, music, etc. So if you are with Rogers, for example, they may get a notice from Sony that says someone with this IP has downloaded a movie illegally. All Rogers can do is send you a letter saying stop. But they can't enforce it or make you pay a fine. And frankly, they don't care because they want you to use lots of data. And that's why Canadians download a lot more stuff than Americans! (And because we don't have Hulu and all those things)
So, yeah, scam.
Thanks Jenny! My H probably knew this but he is sleeping. He will laugh at me for worrying I will end up in OITNB. That show makes everyone a victim.
That sounds like a scam. It's illegal for the ISP to give your information to anyone concerned about the copyright, although they are obligated to send you a warning when they track it to your ip - the warning will just say stop, don't do it again, and change your wifi password. Can you PM me a screen shot or c&p the message? I really wouldn't take it seriously except to run a virus scan on your computer.