In the latest scam surfacing on the Internet, Netflix subscribers are being targeted by scammers looking to steal personal information, according to the Better Business Bureau.
Users that are targeted will be led to a phony webpage that may resemble the Netflix login page. The user will enter their account information and the fake website will claim that the user’s account has been suspended, the BBB warns.
A customer service number is provided and a “representative” recommends the user download the “Netflix support software,” which is remote login software that gives the fake representative full access to the user’s computer.
“Netflix has a good reputation and scammers are taking full advantage of that,” says Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Anyone could fall for this scam.”
The BBB offers these tips to help consumers avoid this scam and others like it:
Never let someone login to 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.
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If the URL seems odd, do not continue to go 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 some jumbled letters or numbers.
Always look up the company’s phone number on their website. If you need to call a company, look it up on their official website. This can make sure that you are calling a legitimate number.
