netflix and steal.
Tech experts are warning Netflix customers about a “huge” cyber scam in which criminals send people fraudulent messages to steal vital financial information.
“These SMS scare campaigns targeting Netflix subscribers have become ubiquitous and seem to never stop, but they vary in size and scope,” security firm Bitdefender warned. Per tech site CyberNews.
The latest digital scheme, which began in September but is still prevalent, sees cybercriminals send fake SMS texts to Netflix customers warning them about problems with their accounts.
“Netflix: There was a problem processing your payment. To keep your services active, please sign in and confirm your details here:https://account-details[.]com,”reads one such alert.
Another common illegal message warns customers of so-called “failed payment”.
Those messages include links to phishing websites designed to collect “login credentials, personal information and credit card details,” according to Bitdefender.
The commandeered credentials then end up on the dark web, where they are sold to various clandestine rings.
The obfuscation of the message, which spread to 23 countries including the United States, is facilitated by the fact that Netflix does not have two-factor authentication security measures in place.
Rather, the streaming platform relies entirely on usernames and passwords, making the site vulnerable to spearphishing.
According to tech experts, the scams work by creating “a sense of the need for immediate action”, adding that “losing access to Netflix due to a missed payment could fit the definition of an emergency for many people.”
Fortunately, it is easy for customers to identify these digital intruders.
For one thing, Netflix never contacts its customers via text, because big companies don’t send customers links that require verification.
To avoid being fooled by bad actors, Bitdefender urges customers to avoid opening suspicious links and type manually on websites instead of clicking on links without checking.
Unfortunately, digital Trojan horses don’t always appear in the form of “fishy” looking text messages – they may even already be on your phone.
Earlier this week, cybersecurity company McAfee identified 15 malicious apps which has been downloaded on at least 8 million Android phones and further warned about a “significant global increase of predatory loan apps”.
