NETFLIX streaming service users are being warned about a scam email which asks subscribers to verify their account but in fact could result in them revealing financial and personal information to the scammers.
The scam email looks almost identical to a legitimate email from Netflix but has a lower case L instead of an i in the name and has the subject line – “We’ve temporarily suspended your account until you verify your details”.
The phishing scam was picked up on Monday by MailGuard a mail security service.
The message advises the recipient that their account has been suspended due to some issues in the “automatic verification process”.
It directs recipients to login to their account, and update billing information and payment methods.
A statement from MailGuard said the UPDATE YOUR DETAILS link leads to a Netflix branded phishing page which is a copy of the actual Netflix sign-in page.
“However while this email is well designed and uses a sophisticated HTML design, it contains several red flags for anyone who is vigilant enough to spot fake email scams,” said the statement.
“Firstly there are several grammatical and spelling errors within the body, such as the bolded “suspeneded”. Spacing errors are also present throughout the email.
“This is not the first Netflix-based scam MailGuard has seen recently. Netflix is a popular and well trusted company with an immensely large customer database, so their branding make a good lure for cybercriminals looking to deceive people.”
What to do if you receive such emails:
MailGuard recommends avoiding clicking links in emails that:
– Are not addressed to you by name, have poor English or omit personal details that a legitimate sender would include
– Are from businesses you’re not expecting to hear from.
– Ask you to download any files
– Take you to a landing page or website that does not have the legitimate URL of the company the email is purporting to be sent from.
A spokesman for Netflix 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, 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.”
For details on other scams: www.scamwatch.gov.au
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