Cyber ​​scams are becoming a growing threat around the world. Cyber ​​criminals are adopting new methods to cheat netizens and cheat them of money. In one such scam, Netflix users worldwide are being warned about a phishing campaign in which scammers are targeting the subscription renewal process to steal personal and financial information. Security experts have expressed concern over this online scam and said that it has affected users in 23 countries including the United States, Germany, Spain and Australia.

According to Bitdefender, the cybersecurity firm that flagged the scam, the new Netflix scam involves scammers sending fraudulent SMS messages claiming to be having problems with Netflix account payments. The purpose of these messages is to create a sense of urgency by prompting users to click on a malicious link in order to solve the alleged problem. The cybersecurity firm also shared examples of such messages, which include:

“Netflix: There was a problem processing your payment. To keep your services active, please sign in and verify your details here: https://account-details(.)com.”

“Your last payment was declined. Update your payment information at: https://homepage-nflix(.)com.”

According to the report, these phishing messages are often tailored to different regions, using local languages ​​and Netflix branding to appear legitimate. In some cases, they are full of grammatical errors, but many are sophisticated enough to deceive unsuspecting users.

Once users click on the provided link, they are redirected to a phishing website that mimics the official login page of Netflix. Here, cyber criminals collect sensitive data including usernames, passwords, personal information and credit card details. Stolen credentials are often sold on the dark web, putting victims at risk of financial fraud and identity theft.

In particular, Netflix has become one of the easiest targets for cybercriminals due to its popularity. Like WhatsApp, which is one of the top messaging platforms, Netflix is ​​currently one of the leading OTT platforms, making it an attractive target for hackers. Unlike platforms with two-factor authentication (2FA), Netflix accounts are more vulnerable to credential stuffing – a technique where hackers use credentials stolen from one branch to access accounts on other platforms.

Although no specific cases have been reported in India, Netflix users are advised to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to misleading messages.

-Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages. If you receive an SMS or email claiming there is an issue with your Netflix account, manually type the Netflix official website address into your browser to verify your account.

–Beware of messages containing ultimatums or urgent demands. Legitimate companies rarely send messages with this tone.

– Check for red flags like unknown sender IDs or unprofessional language. Even well-written messages should be taken with caution.

– If you click on such messages and enter your details, immediately change your Netflix password and the passwords of other accounts where the same credentials were used.