Blog Post  Netflix Scam

Netflix has quickly become a household brand, and with the drop in temperatures comes those warm nights of watching movies. But as the case with many popular services, there are scammers using their familiar red logo to take advantage of you.

There are several variations of the Netflix email scam:

• The first is an email promoting a fake “special rate” offer. The link supplied looks legitimate, but takes you to a third party website asking for your banking and personal information. Besides that, there are a bunch of malware and other viruses on the site looking to infect your computer.
• The second variation also contains a fake offer, a free subscription to Netflix for a year. But, the big red “Join Now” button doesn’t take you to a Netflix page to claim your prize; it also collects your information and bank account access.
• A third version of the scam takes the form of a payment failure. The subject of the email says something similar to “Unable to Bill your Subscription,” and the body asks you to update your card information with a link that looks real, but is compromised.
• Another version that’s been seen also is in disguise as a card failure. Under the bright red Netflix logo, the email says your card is having trouble being authorized and needs to be updated. The following link is also compromised.
• Another variation is in email form, that claims their membership must be re-validated and sensitive information should be provided in order to do so. The email instructs subscribers to enter billing information on the Netflix website with a link that takes them to their account — but the link goes to a fraudulent site. Then it says they will suspend your membership if you do not act within 48 hours.

So how do you know if an email from Netflix is the real thing? We don’t want you to lose your access to all those binge-worthy shows, so here are some tips on how to weed out the frauds:

• Always check the official Netflix site for any deals. If the only place you can find details on the discount is that suspicious email you received, chances are it’s too good to be true.
• Look at the origin of the email. Scammers usually create fake email accounts that include Netflix somewhere in the name, but don’t be fooled by this. If there are any misspellings or unnecessary words, it’s probably a fake.
• If you’re still unsure about the validity of the email, contact Netflix and ask if they sent you anything. Make sure you use the number on the official website, not one included in the email.

If you’ve been a victim of the Netflix email scam, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission or call our Consumer Hotline at 888-283-3757.