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Netflix Users Warned About Phishing Scam Offering A Year's Free Subscription

Netflix Users Warned About Phishing Scam Offering A Year's Free Subscription

Don't click on the link, folks

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Netflix users are being warned against a scam that claims to offer a year of free subscription to the service.

If you're unlucky enough to click on the link, you'll be taken to a relatively convincing looking landing page where your personal information will be collected.

The scam was recognised by South Lanarkshire Council, who tweeted out a warning asking people to be careful.

The Scottish local government authority wrote: "We're aware of a Netflix email scam, offering the chance to win a year's premium subscription.

"The link takes you to a genuine looking Netflix page designed to harvest info. Netflix will not email to ask for personal/bank info."

PA

The email itself says that if you click a link to enter a competition you could be in with a chance of winning a year's worth of premium Netflix subscription.

Don't click on it.

If you do accidentally follow the link, you'll be asked for things like your bank details, your name and other identifiable details.

Just last month, watchdog Action Fraud reported receiving 1,400 complaints, according to The Sun.

To be fair, you should always tread carefully when any website is asking you to input sensitive information - that counts doubly for your bank details.

On the official Netflix website, they say that they will not ask for such details if they need to contact via email.

PA

Their advice states: "We will never ask for your personal information by texts or email.

"This includes: Credit or debit card numbers, Bank account details, Netflix passwords.

"We will never request payment through a 3rd party vendor or website.

"If you receive a text or email requesting any of the above, it is not from Netflix."

Should you receive this email - or any other like it, for that matter - it bears repeating that you should definitely not click on it.

This sort of scam is called a phishing scam, and is ordinarily an attempt to coax personal data out of unsuspecting citizens.

PA

It usually involved criminals pretending to be some official organisation or company, that the person subscribes to or trusts.

It can happen via email, over the telephone or via text.

The best way to avoid it is simply through constant vigilance. Be aware and question every link that gets sent to you, and ask yourself whether the organisation would need to - or ever would - require the kind of information they're asking for.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, TV and Film, Technology, Netflix