Sophisticated phishing emails purporting to be from Netflix are attempting to extort customer bank details. Here are two examples you need to watch out for.
Online streaming services have revolutionised the way in which we watch TV, with Netflix at the forefront of their success.
The platform reportedly has over 150 million subscribers worldwide, so it’s easy to see why it’d be a target for scammers trying their luck with carefully crafted phishing emails.
If you’re a Netflix customer and you’ve received an email out of the blue regarding ‘updating your payment details’ or ‘expired membership’, don’t take it at face value – it could be a scammer’s attempt to extort your bank details.
‘Your account is on hold’
Fortunately, we’ve got hold of two examples of these phishing emails so you know what to watch out for.
The first is the most convincing:
The use of both Netflix and Visa’s branding here gives the illusion of a genuine email, but when you look closer, you’ll see that it’s arrived from a fraudulent email address that has nothing to do with Netflix.
It’s be easy to miss if you’re in a hurry, which emphasises the importance of checking emails like this thoroughly, especially if it’s requesting sensitive information.
Our guide to spotting an email scam can help you catch the telltale signs.
‘Suspended membership account’
The second email we’ve seen isn’t quite as slick as the first in its content, but has made use of email spoofing in an attempt to con unsuspecting Netflix subscribers:
You’ll note the incorrect spelling of ‘membership’ as ‘memebership’ on a supposedly Netflix-branded domain. Again, it’s easy to miss at a glance.
The email itself also contains classic phishing email giveaways – such as the rogue ‘You’re’ and out-of-place capital letters.
We made Netflix aware of both of these phishing attempts. A Netflix spokesperson said:
“We take the security of our members’ accounts seriously and Netflix employs numerous proactive measures to detect fraudulent activity to keep the Netflix service and our members’ accounts secure.
Unfortunately, phishing scams are common on the internet and target popular brands such as Netflix and other companies with large customer bases to lure users into giving out personal information.
Members who want to learn more about how to keep their personal information safe against phishing scams and other malicious activity can go to netflix.com/security or contact Customer Service directly.”
Keeping your accounts secure
As always, if you think you’ve handed over sensitive information to scammers, contact your bank immediately. If you’ve been a victim of fraud, here’s how to get your money back.
If you’re worried about the security of your accounts, we’d emphasise the importance of having strong passwords in place, especially for accounts such as Netflix in which two-factor authentication (2FA) isn’t in place.
Our Computing Editor, Kate Bevan, strongly recommends that you make use of 2FA wherever possible.
A password manager can help you create strong, unique, unguessable passwords. These are the ones we recommend.
Have you received a Netflix phishing email or a similar fraud attempt for another service? If so, let us know in the comments.
Know someone who subscribes to Netflix? Then please do pass on this warning.
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