HBO serious about VPN use, don't use it!

If you’re a paying HBO Now subscriber and have no idea what a VPN is, your account is safe. However, if you happen to love HBO’s new streaming deal but you are paying for it from outside the U.S. and connecting through a VPN service, then you might be in trouble.

Just like Netflix, HBO doesn’t like that you use VPNs to subscribe to its new streaming service, even if you’re a paying customer. But unlike Netflix, HBO is apparently interested in taking serious and immediate action against these customers from other countries who are pretending to be Americans by using VPN programs.

According to to TorrentFreak, the company has apparently started sending emails to accounts suspected of streaming with help of VPN or a proxy.

“It has come to our attention that you may have signed up for and viewed video content on the HBO NOW streaming service from outside of the authorized service area (the United States, including D.C. and certain US territories),” HBO says in its email (see the image below).

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the HBO NOW streaming service is only available to residents of the United States, for use within the United States. Any other access is prohibited by our Terms of Use,” the company added.

HBO also lists a number that users have to call to explain the situation in order not to have their account canceled without any further warning.

If you happen to be an American citizen travelling to other parts of the world and you’re looking to enjoy HBO Now with help of VPNs, you might still receive one of these emails.

One way of really trolling HBO would be watching HBO Now via a VPN service on an Android device, at least until your account inevitably gets shut down. Currently, the service is available only in the U.S., as an Apple TV exclusive.

An image showing HBO’s email warning follows below.