Netflix Users Report Receiving Scam Emails That Ask to Update Their Payment Details

So you received an email declaring that you need to ‘Update your account to get back to watching Netflix.’ The message is meant to convince you that Netflix had problems handling billing information and, therefore, you are now required to update your payment details. The email (here’s a screenshot captured by express.co.uk) displays the well-known Netflix logo, and it does not seem to be too out of the ordinary. That being said, whenever you are asked to update any kind of sensitive information – whether that’s a password or payment card information – you need to stop and think for a second. Is the email legitimate, or are you being scammed? If you have received the ‘Update your account to get back to watching Netflix’ message, you are being tricked, and if you fall for the scam, the consequences could be dire.

Who receives Netflix scam emails?

There are several methods that schemers can use to approach Netflix users. Schemers can perform a mass spam email attack and send phishing emails to random people. In this situation, the attacker might have an accumulation of email addresses obtained from the dark web and underground forums. Of course, this method does not guarantee that the misleading email goes to the actual users of Netflix. Nonetheless, if the email reaches a gullible Netflix user, they could be scammed. In a different scenario, the attackers might only approach actual Netflix users. They could, for example, employ a different phishing scam set up to extract email addresses and passwords. All in all, to answer the question – pretty much anyone could receive a Netflix scam email, and so caution must be exercised. If you do not spot the warning signs – which might include an unfamiliar sender address, strange formatting of the message, and illicit requests to disclose private information – you could be tricked into clicking the ‘UPDATE ACCOUNT NOW’ button.

Do NOT click the ‘UPDATE ACCOUNT NOW’ button

If you do that, you are routed to a fake Netflix login page that, unfortunately, might look convincingly real. If you enter your email address and password to log in, that already gives schemers great power because login credentials can be sold online, and that might make it possible for anyone to hijack your Netflix account. If you do not sniff out a Netflix scam right there and then, you might be tricked into revealing payment card information. If you do that, schemers could end up using this information to perform illicit transactions and, basically, steal your money. Unfortunately, once this information is disclosed, you cannot know who and when might use it. Schemers could even lie low for a while to cover their tracks. Then, one day, when you least expect it, your bank might call you asking whether or not you made strange purchases, or you might discover unauthorized charges yourself. Therefore, if you end up being tricked into disclosing payment card information to those behind the Netflix scam, you ought to contact your bank immediately. They will advise you best on what should be done next.

With the rise of Netflix, more scams are likely to emerge

The ‘Update your account to get back to watching Netflix’ scam is not the first or the last scam to hit the users of this popular streaming service. According to Forbes, Netflix continues to be one of the most phished brands in the world. In 2019, it landed in 4^th place following Microsoft, PayPal, and Facebook. The trend is clear – schemers target the most popular services in the world. Netflix has been steadily expanding its user base, and it now has 158 million paying customers in 190 countries. Therefore, it is no wonder that the users of this platform are often exposed to phishing scams. It is truly impossible to keep track of all of them, but just a year ago, we reported the infamous ‘Update Your Membership with us’ scam that, in fact, is very similar to the ‘Update your account to get back to watching Netflix’ scam. Perhaps it was modeled after the previous scam, or was it created by the same schemers? We will never know.

How to identify phishing emails

Since more phishing scams are likely to target Netflix users in 2020 and beyond that, it is important to learn how to identify phishing emails. This type of scam continues to be most popular among schemers trying to extract private information. Therefore, you need to be very careful about the emails you receive. As we have briefly mentioned before, there are several warning signs that might make it easier to spot Netflix scam emails in the future. First and foremost, you always want to analyze the sender’s email address. If you have other emails from Netflix in your inbox, you can compare the addresses, and if there is a discrepancy, that should help you recognize a scam.

You also need to pay extra attention to the messages you receive because if they do not make sense, a scam could be suspected. For example, if you receive a message stating that your billing information needs to be updated, you should open Netflix.com or your Netflix app. If any data needs to be updated, you will be introduced to a message on your screen. If you are able to stream as per usual, you do not need to do anything else besides reporting the misleading scam email. Another important thing to remember is that you can always update passwords and payment information via Netflix.com, and so if you ever receive a strange email with a link to what looks like a legitimate website, we suggest you open your browser and go directly to Netflix.com. At the end of the day, if Netflix wants you to know something, you will be informed about it via the app whenever you start streaming something.

What to do if you have been scammed?

If you have fallen for the Netflix scam before you learned how to identify phishing emails, your virtual security is on the line, especially if the same email address and password combo is used for logging into other websites and accounts. Even if it is just your Netflix account that was compromised, you need to change your password ASAP. We recommend employing a reliable password manager to help you out. If you have not tried a password manager before, click the ‘Try FREE 30-Day Trial Now’ button and start your free trial today. If you have been tricked into disclosing payment-related information, quickly contact your bank to ask for assistance. In the future, always expect the best but prepare for the worst.