Police Are Warning Netflix Users About a Scary New Scam

Netflix scammers are at it again! We reported a few months back of a UK hoax targeting users for their banking information and now, the fraudulent emails have made their way across the pond.

The Grand Rapids Police Department took to social media earlier this week to warn customers about the email phishing scam. They explained that a number of Netflix users have received a realistic-looking email saying their accounts have been deactivation because the company "could not validate their billing information."

The email then says that users can reactivate their accounts by clicking on a link and entering their billing information and credit card numbers. By clicking and entering their payment information, you may be giving hackers direct access to your banking accounts.

Police say that if you come across this email (or one similar to it), do NOT click on any links. Instead, go to Netflix's website directly and log in to check the status of your account.

In a past statement to GoodHousekeeping.com, Netflix explained that when scams like this arise, their customers' privacy is their top concern.

"We take the security of our members' accounts seriously and Netflix employs numerous proactive measures to detect fraudulent activity to keep the Netflix service and our members' accounts secure.Unfortunately, scams are common on the internet and target popular brands such as Netflix and other companies with large customer bases to lure users into giving out personal information.Members who want to learn more about how to keep their personal information safe against phishing scams and other malicious activity can go to netflix.com/security or contact Customer Service directly."

In general, The Good Housekeeping Institute says you should always be wary before clicking on any links or entering any personal information online. They recommend taking the following precautions to avoid becoming a victim.

1. Always check who the sender is. Even if the email seems legit, hover your cursor over the address to see where it really came from; if there isn't a match, be wary.

2. Never download any attachments or click directly on any links. Instead, it's worth it to directly type in the website in a separate browser if it is related to an account you have.

3. Keep an eye out for bad grammar or any typos. These are often a direct giveaway that it's a fake email. Legit businesses proofread their communications.

If you find yourself in a situation where you've entered personal information like your log in credentials or payment details, monitor you bank transactions and change your password to Netflix and any other accounts that use the same password and username combo.

[h/t: WFAA 8 ABC]