LITTLE ROCK, AR - The Better Business Bureau of Arkansas is issuing a warning that Netflix is the latest in a long line of companies to be plagued with a phishing scam using their name.
The scam is not just limited to Netflix customers. It uses the company's name and logo and most of the emails contain the subject line “Netflix Account Closed”. The bogus email contains links that contain phishing malware that can steal information from your computer.
A spokesperson from Netflix confirmed that the company has identified the website used and is working to shutdown the site.
“We always tell people don’t click any links, go directly to the website, sign into their account," the Netflix spokesperson said. "If there is a problem with the account we (Netflix) will typically have a banner at the top of the website that there is a problem with their account.”
Consumers can also call their customer service number at 866-716-6812 to speak with a Netflix representative about their account.
Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire personal information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by posing as a trusted entity in an (email). Communications claiming to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing is usually carried out by e-mail spoofing, and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website that looks identical to the legitimate one.
The BBB recommends the following to anyone who receives these emails:
- Do not to open any attachments
- Do not click on any links
- Delete the email from your inbox, and then delete it again from your trash or recycling folder
- Run a full system scan using reputable virus software
