BBB warns of Netflix scam
The Better Business Bureau is warning Netflix customers to watch for a new phishing scam that tries to steal their personal information.
Targeted customers get an email that links to a phony website that may look like the real Netflix login page.
If the user enters account information, the fake website claims that the user’s account has been suspended and provide a fake customer service number.
If the user calls the number, a person tells the user to download “Netflix support software,” which is remote login software that gives the fake representative full access to the user’s computer.
Three key indicators show that the email involved in this scam is not actually from Netflix:
First, the phone number does not belong to Netflix but to a call center in India.
Second, the webpage is a pop-up.
Third, the “representative” wants to log into your computer via remote software.
Here are some tips on how to avoid this scam and others like it:
Never let someone log into your computer remotely.When someone logs in, they can do anything you can do on your computer. They can access anything including personal and financial information.
Do not click links in emails.It is better to type the address in the search bar manually.
If the URL seems odd, do not continue to the site.If it is a scam, it will most likely have an unusual URL. It will likely contain a common name but be accompanied by jumbled letters or numbers.
Always look up the business’s phone number on its website.If you need to call a business, look it up on its official website. This will ensure that you are calling a legitimate number.