Netflix users should be wary of a new scam doing the rounds which suggests that their account is about to be shut down. Cyber security experts say this latest campaign is trying to steal personal data and it’s not just email addresses and passwords that the criminals are after. What makes this threat more worrying is that it’s targeting Netflix customers in a bid to access their actual bank accounts.
The message, which is currently circulating around the web via an email, warns users that their Netflix account will be deleted if they do not ‘verify their billing information’.
Users are then told they have 48 hours to comply or face their favourite shows and movies being blocked from their TVs. Of course, that isn’t actually going to happen but by threatening fans with a block after such a short space of time it’s thought some people might be tricked into clicking on the scam more easily.
Explaining more about the threat Ray Walsh, Digital Privacy Expert at ProPrivacy said: “With the UK back in lockdown, UK Netflix users are being targeted with a new phishing scam, which is tricking users into providing their payment details.
“This latest Netflix recent scam attempts to coerce the victim by threatening them with the closure of their account within 48 hours if payment details aren’t updated.
“This is designed to trick the victim into acting quickly and without thinking things through and realising that they are being scammed.”
The scam email looks very real and it could end up with hackers gaining access to your bank account so be careful and think twice before handing over any personal details.
It’s worth remembering that Netflix will never contact you via email or text message to ask for any type of banking details or passwords.
In a post of its website, Netflix states: “We will never ask you to enter your personal information in a text or email. This includes credit or debit card numbers, bank account details, Netflix passwords.
“We will never request payment through a 3rd party vendor or website.
“If the text or email links to a URL that you don’t recognize, don’t tap or click it. If you did already, do not enter any information on the website that opened.
“Scammers can’t get information from you unless you give it to them. So don’t click any links in the messages or reply to them.”
News of this scam comes as some Netflix users are facing a price hike to use the streaming service.
The firm has just announced that millions of users will see the costs of their monthly bill go up. The streaming firm had already hiked its Standard and Premium plans for new customers with both increasing by £1.
That means those signing up now pay £9.99 to stream on more than one device at the same time and £13.99 for the ultimate option which beams content to your TV in glorious 4K.
Now existing Netflix streamers will soon be told about their bills getting bigger as well. In a post on its website, Netflix said: “These prices apply for new members and will gradually take effect for all current members. Current members will be notified by email 30 days before their price change takes effect.”
