Netflix has been in the news lately, cracking down on password sharing. It also happens to have millions of subscribers.
Scammers like it for both of those reasons. The ConsumerAffair’s-Trend Micro Threat Alert shows Netflix scams are trending.
Netflix Phishing
As a result of Netflix's recent membership regulations, Trend Micro's research identified scammers taking this as an opportunity to send phishing emails to customers to steal their personal information via fake membership verification mail. Trend Micro detected 356 logs on May 31.
“Trend Micro's research identifies a disconcerting pattern of fraudulent membership verification emails that aim to exploit the trust of unsuspecting users,” Lynette Owens, vice president of Global Consumer Education at Trend Micro, told ConsumerAffairs. “A worrisome 356 instances of this scam were identified on May 31 alone.
The scammers are exploiting Netflix’s recent policy changes and are hiding behind a trusted brand. It's important for consumers to know that services such as Netflix will not solicit personal data via email. You should always second guess any such communications and reach out directly to Netflix's customer service when there's any doubt about their authenticity.
Travel Scam
From April 1 to June 4, Trend Micro's research team detected 1,436 travel-related scam URLs, which increased by 10% compared to the past weeks.
Trend Micro's research team detected three fake Airbnb log-in pages.
The top 5 states being targeted are Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
Get used to this one being part of the weekly Threat Alert. More people are going to be on the move this summer and scammers will continue to take advantage of that.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns travelers to be highly skeptical of “free” vacation offers – something that falls into the “too good to be true” basket. If you respond to these offers, you’ll quickly learn that you have to pay some fees and taxes first – so your “free” vacation isn’t really free. A legitimate company won’t ask you to pay for a free prize.
Father’s Day Shopping Scam
From May 15 to June 4, Trend Micro's research team detected 247,640 Father’s Day-related shopping scams globally and 90,826 Father’s Day-related shopping scams in the US, which increased 1.9 times compared to the last 7 days. Most of these scams use shopping discounts to attract users to purchase on fake shopping websites.
45.6% of Father’s Day-related shopping scam victims are from Virginia.
The top 5 states being targeted are Virginia, California, Oregon, Florida, and Illinois.
With Father’s Day fast approaching, this may be one of the last weeks this one makes the list. But scammers remain busy trying to hoodwink unsuspecting shoppers.
In addition to fake shopping websites, these scams may also include e-card scams and package delivery scams.
As we pointed out last week, scammers may be reloading scams from past years. For example, in 2022 they impersonated WhatsApp and claimed you could win Heineken beer for your dad by simply providing some personal information.
Delta Airlines Survey Scam
Trend Micro's research identified scammers inviting users to participate in a survey to receive a $100 Delta Airline Rewards. Trend Micro detected 169 logs on May 28.
Remember the Walmart Survey scam and the Costco Survey scam? This is practically the same thing.
According to WDIV-TV in Detroit, this one has shown up a lot recently in the Motor City. Scammers are sending out emails that appear to come from the airline but are fake. They promise rewards, as well as expensive gifts if you fill out a survey.
Some of the questions, however, get very personal. As always, be highly skeptical of any claim you can receive an expensive item just for giving your opinion.
Another active scam this week impersonates Apple.
Apple Phishing
Trend Micro's research identified scammers informing users that their Apple account was suspended and needed to be activated by providing personal information on the fake Apple website.
The top 5 states being targeted are Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
Finally, a couple of high-profile scams involve mail. Trend Micro's research team identified scammers impersonating the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), asking customers to verify their parcel delivery information and credit card information.
The research team also identified scammers sending notifications to users, asking them to authenticate their mail accounts to send out undelivered mail. Trend Micro detected 112 logs on June 1.
