Netflix users warned of ‘scary’ scam that could steal credit card information

Netflix and steal.

Techsperts are warning Netflix subscribers of a “huge” cyber scam in which criminals steal important financial information by sending people fake messages.

“These SMS scare campaigns targeting Netflix customers have become ubiquitous and never stop, but they vary in size and scope,” security firm Bitdefender warned, to tech site Cybernews.

The latest digital scheme, which began in September but is still widespread, saw cybercriminals send fake SMS texts warning Netflix subscribers of problems with their accounts.

“NETFLIX: There was a problem processing your payment. To keep your services active, please login and confirm your details at: https://account-details[.]com,” reads one such alert.

Another common bootleg message warns customers of a so-called “failed payment.”

These messages include links to phishing websites designed to collect “login credentials, personal information and credit card details,” according to Bitdefender.

The commandeered credentials then end up on the dark web, where they are sold to various clandestine rings.

The messaging masquerade, which spans 23 countries, including the United States, is facilitated by the fact that Netflix has no two-factor authentication safeguards.

Instead, the streaming platform relies only on usernames and passwords, making the site vulnerable to spearphishing.

The scams work by creating “a sense of urgency that requires immediate action,” according to the techies, who add that “losing access to Netflix due to a missed payment may fit the definition of an emergency for many.”

Fortunately, it is easy for customers to spot these digital infiltrators.

First, Netflix never contacts its customers via text, as large firms do not send customers links that require verification.

To avoid being tricked by bad actors, Bitdefender urges customers to refrain from opening suspicious links and manually type in websites instead of clicking on links without verifying them.

Unfortunately, digital Trojans don’t always appear as a “spoof”-looking text message—they may even already be on your phone.

Earlier this week, cybersecurity company McAfee identified 15 malicious apps that have been downloaded to at least 8 million Android phones and further warned of “significant global growth in … predatory loan apps.”