What can be so risky about registering for a free account on a shady website to watch blockbuster films for free?

The global release of a Japanese animated action movie has sparked a wave of online scams targeting anime fans eager to watch the new film for free.

Fraudsters have launched fake websites across multiple languages, imitating legitimate streaming services and claiming to offer full access to the movie “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle”.

The scam works as follows: attackers create fake websites that claim to offer free access to the new movie with voiceovers in the user’s native language. However, when visitors attempt to play the video, a fake player appears, prompting them to register in order to supposedly gain access to the film and receive “unlimited access” to the platform’s content.

In later steps, the registration form collects banking information under the pretense of activating a “free trial” or unlocking “unlimited access.” Any personal details submitted put users at risk of credential theft, especially if they have been using the same credentials across multiple accounts.

The campaign’s widespread appearance in multiple languages suggests a coordinated effort to reach global audiences. Cybercriminals often capitalize on trendjacking techniques on major entertainment releases to leverage fan enthusiasm and increase scam success rates.

This latest wave of anime‑themed scams underscores how online criminals exploit cultural events to distribute phishing sites and harvest sensitive data. Authorities and cybersecurity specialists warn that such tactics are likely to persist as global releases continue to attract massive online attention.

According to Olga Altukhova, Senior Web Content Analyst, Kaspersky, “We’ve seen that cybercriminals often try to profit from high-profile premieres… exploiting the fan bases of popular franchises.”