Multiple Faces Detected
February 24th, 2022
With over 75 million subscribers, Netflix is currently one of the most extensive video-distribution networks in the world. No wonder it has become many people who go to streaming services and added the term ‘binge watching’ to the English language.
But this massive success has a downside. According to a recent study by Kaspersky, Netflix is the most compromised and impersonated brand in terms of scams and cybercrime, leaving you open to scams.
Why the increase in Netflix scams?
Hackers take advantage of Netflix’s expanding membership base to steal personal details like passwords and bank details. The scheme entails throwing malicious links to users and conveniently waiting for you to take in the bait.
When a user clicks on these suspect links, sent via emails, the link directs them to a fake login page of the Netflix service. Unsurprisingly, many unsuspecting Netflix users don’t know that the malware collects all their account information once they tap on the link.
The account information collected includes:
- Users name
- Phone number
- Passwords
- Billing information which comprises bank details
Cybercriminals collect your passwords and sell them to thousands of different Netflix users. They sell the stolen Netflix passwords on the Deep Web for as cheap as $0.5. This presents many different security problems. Especially because many people use the same password for everything. This breach of security can open you up to having massive disruptions on your life.
Do you ever go through your ‘currently watching’ movies and see some videos you don’t even know exist? Well, if that is happening to you, the chances are that you might be sharing your account with thousands of other Netflix users who have probably obtained it from scammers. It might be time to change your password.
Netflix phishing email scam
Have you ever received an email that asks you to provide your valuable personal information? Did the email require you to provide specific details like account number and Social Security number? If yes, you probably have been a target for scammers.
Scammers use phishing attacks to take control of your computer or network. They send emails with links. The spammers can install harmful programs that eventually lock you out of your data when you click on those links.
The whole process of sending fake emails and convincing you to share your valuable information is called the Netflix phishing scam.
Netflix text scam
Unlike the Netflix phishing scam that throws malicious emails your way, the Netflix text scam involves sending texts to users telling them they urgently need to renew their membership. When you log in using these links, the scammers will mine your personal information, including Netflix password and banking details.
Remember, Netflix has put a disclaimer to this, reminding its users that they don’t at any time ask users for such personal details. So next time such texts pop up on your screen, be fast to relocate them to the bin.
How to Spot A Scam Netflix Scam Email?
Netflix maintains very high standards of operation, and protecting customer details is one. A text or an email from Netflix will never ask you to enter:
- Credit or debit card numbers
- Bank account details
- Netflix passwords
Additionally, Netflix will never ask you to make payment through a third-party vendor or website. The best form of security is ignoring the links and, if possible, blocking the sender. However, if you’ve already clicked on any of them, don’t enter any information on the opened website.
How do you prevent your information from being stolen?
As earlier mentioned, the best way of securing your personal information is by ignoring all the Netflix scams thrown your way. Nonetheless, you can go the extra mile to protect other people from the rampant fraud by forwarding the malicious Netflix scam email or text to phishing@netflix.com.
Once you’ve forwarded the message, you should delete it to make it easy for the Netflix team to find its source.
What if you have already swallowed the bait?
You might have given away your personal information and now feel desperate. To manage the situation, do the following:
- Change your Netflix password to a stranger and unique version
- Update your password on similar websites
Online scammers are crafty and easily convince you to surrender your vital information. The best way around this is to avoid any links from third parties that promise cheap access to Netflix content.
Conclusion
Internet scams are on the rise. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been lost in the last year to internet crime. Socialcatfish.com is here to help you avoid scams online by helping you unlock full transparency. This means no more guessing if the person you’re talking to is someone who can be trusted or not. Use the toolbar below to run your first search today and join the growing community of new, empowered internet users.
