Urgent Warning Issued Over Netflix Scam That 'Lets Hackers Steal Your Money'

Netflix users are being warned to be vigilant against fake emails in which scammers are asking them to update their payment details.

The emails claim to have been sent by Netflix, however they are actually from scammers who are trying to gain access to your bank account.

Government agency the Federal Trade Commission first issued the warning and urged customers "not to take the bait".

In the email, which looks very similar to one you would receive from Netflix, it tells the receiver that they are having problems with their current payment options.

FTC)

It reads: "We're having some trouble with your current billing information.

"We'll try again, but in the meantime you may want to update your payment details."

At the end of the email, there is a red button that tells you to "Update Account now", however if you click the button it takes you through to a fake website run by scammers who will use the information you provide to hack into your bank account.

The Federal Trade Commission issued an urgent warning about the Netflix "phishing scam" and wrote: "Scammers use your information to steal your money, your identity, or both.

"They also use phishing emails to get access to your computer or network.

"If you click on a link, they can install ransomware or other programs that can lock you out of your data."

Pexels)

Most phishing emails are separated into your junk folder, however if some do end up in your inbox there are some easy ways to spot whether it is fake or not.

The first thing you can do is check the address used to send the email, although the name may come up as a company name. But you will notice the email address does not look genuine at all

If the greeting is impersonal that is usually a warning too, as most official emails will begin with your full name.

Sometimes scam emails will just say "Hi" and not include your name, or your email address will be used after "Hi". This impersonal address is another sign that it's likely to be a scammer.

Scammers also often try too hard to make the email sound official and business like.

The main way to spot this is if they have overused the word 'official'. You are unlikely to see the wording in a truly official email.

Check any account numbers and IDs in the emails against your records to see if they match as they are often designed to trick you into thinking the email is genuine.

Topics: News

Mark Cunliffe

Mark is a writer at LADbible with a creative writing background and a history working at some of Manchester's biggest agencies. He loves football and music that screams a lot.

@mark_cunliffe