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Don't Fall for the Netflix Email Scam

By Lisa M. Schaffer, Esq. on December 19, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

'Tis the season for phishing scams, and this one involves Netflix. Many consumers report receiving an email that looks like it's from Netflix, but it is in fact a scam trying to get your credit card information.

Phishing Email Looks Very Legitimate

This particular scam has done an excellent job of lifting Netflix logos and screen interfaces to make the emails and linked webpages look like legitimate Netflix pages. Once the victim enters their login and password, they are directed to another page asking for more personal information, including billing and credit card information. Once the victim gives the cybercriminal all of their data, they are then taken directly to the real Netflix home page. This last move is very ingenious. as it has a way of lowering the guard of victims who had been unsure up to that point if the email was legitimate or not.

Tips to Spot a Phish

It was easy for one recipient to know the email was a scam, since he didn't have a Netflix account. But since that applies to a minority of households in America, we thought you'd need a few other tips on how to pinpoint this scam. First, check to see if the email originates from a Netflix domain. Next, confirm that the email uses conventional English. For instance, one recipient received an email that began with "Hi Dear." We highly doubt Netflix would start a billing problem email with that header.

According to Netflix, here are a few other tips to spot the phishing scam:

  • Never enter your login or financial details after following a link in an email or text message. If you're unsure if you're visiting a legitimate Netflix website, type www.netflix.com directly into your web browser.
  • Never click on any links or open any attachments in an email or text message you received unexpectedly, regardless of the source.
  • If you suspect an email or text message is not from Netflix, do not reply to it. Forward it to Netflix.

If you or someone you love has become a victim of this scam, contact a local consumer protection attorney. Fraudulent credit card purchases are usually not the responsibility of the victim, but unwinding the web of phishing line can be very tedious and time consuming. A consumer protection lawyer can help you be certain to avoid most, if not all, of the fraudulent charges racked up. And they may also be able to help you never be a victim again.

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