Netflix scammers never sleep. At least it seems that way.
Already this year, Trend Micro reports there’ve been Netflix “We’re sorry to see you go” scams, Netflix job scams, Netflix $90 reward scams, Netflix “Having trouble with your account scams,” and Netflix “Your membership has ended, but…” scams.
Now, "Your account is on hold" messages are showing up in people’s email boxes – people who don’t even have a Netflix account! Snopes researchers say they found one instance that dates back to January, but that most of the action has taken place in the last few weeks.
Internet myth verification site Snopes reported that the messages they were sent claimed that someone’s Netflix membership had been placed on hold due to issues with their billing information or needed to be recovered. The signature on the email claimed that the message came from "Netflix Services," and – as legit emails might do – contained a link where a user could update their billing information. Of course, that link did not go to a real Netflix URL.
All indications are that this new attempt is fairly widespread. It’s been reported on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and even local law enforcement agencies. The scoundrels behind this scam have gone as far as blasting out every 10-digit configuration of a phone number possible, too.
“This popped up on my phone today. There are a couple of problems with it. 1) I don't have a #Netflix account and never will. 2) My mobile number is very private and I don't give it out,” one person alerted their friends on Facebook.
How to tell if an email or text is actually from Netflix
If you get an email from Netflix, click on it at your own risk. It doesn’t matter what it’s asking for – your Netflix account email, phone, password, or payment method – odds are that it didn't come from Netflix.
“We'll never ask you to share your personal information in a text or email,” the company warned. This includes:
Credit or debit card numbers
Bank account details
Netflix passwords
“We'll never ask for payment through a third party vendor or website,” either. “If the text or email links to a URL that you don't recognize, don't tap or click it. If you did already, do not enter any information on the website that opened.”
But if you did click on a fake Netflix email, you have a good chance of saving your hide by changing your Netflix password to a new one that is strong and unique to Netflix. The company recommends that because passwords can get passed around from scammer to scammer, you should also update your password on any other websites or apps where you used the same email and password combination.
And, if you paid anything or imputed any payment information, call your financial institution or credit card company ASAP and forward the message to phishing@netflix.com.