Have you ever received a suspicious-looking email from Netflix saying your payment was declined or your subscription was cancelled even though you didn't authorize it? Or you may have received a password reset email without requesting one? If so, you may be the target of a Netflix email scam.
Millions of users around the world use this popular streaming service, which is what makes it a common target for fraudsters. Therefore, you must know how to identify Netflix scam emails and protect your online accounts from getting hacked and your personal information from getting stolen.
In this article, you'll see what a Netflix scam email might look like and what steps to take when you receive one. So, read this article till the end to learn how to safeguard your digital privacy from such scams.
Why Am I Receiving Netflix Scam Emails
Netflix email scams are quite common, and there could be multiple reasons why you are on the receiving end of such emails.
Using Email Address as Username
You may wonder how the hacker got your email address in the first place. If you use your email address as a username when signing up for online platforms, you risk being targeted by scam emails. Therefore, you are advised to use strong and unique usernames for all your online accounts. This will protect your email address from any malicious intent.
To better understand the risks of using your email address as a username and explore safer alternatives, check out our detailed guide: Why You Should Avoid Using Your Email Address as a Username.
Data Breach
Your email address could have been leaked in a data breach. Hackers misuse this information to send scam emails to users. You can check if your email address was compromised in a data breach by entering it on this website.
Data Harvesting
A hacker may have obtained your email address from public forums or social media. To prevent that, don't make your email address visible on your online accounts, such as on your Facebook or Instagram bio. Only share your email with credible platforms, and beware of fake polls and giveaways that ask you to provide your email address.
How does the Netflix Email Scam Work?
Understanding how the Netflix email scam works is crucial to avoid falling victim to it. Scammers send deceptive emails that look like they are officially from Netflix. Believing the email is legitimate, users click on malicious links or disclose their personal information.
Netflix scam emails have several variations, such as subscription expiry, password reset, payment error, and refund scam.
Image: NYU Web Publishing
How to Identify a Netflix Scam Email
Identifying whether a Netflix email is legitimate or a scam is not so tricky if you pay attention to the following signs:
Sender Email Address
How often do you check the email address from which you receive a Netflix email? Most users only look at the sender's name, Netflix, and assume the email is legitimate. They do not pay attention to the random email address. However, in some cases, scammers may use a spoofed email domain to trick users. To verify if an email is actually from Netflix, check if it is listed here.
Grammar & Spelling Errors
Grammar and spelling errors are major red flags in scam emails. You are unlikely to find such mistakes in legitimate emails sent by Netflix.
Urgent Action
You will notice that you are being prompted to take immediate action to avoid losing access to your subscription or refund accidental payments. Scammers use this tactic to prevent you from noticing that it is not an official email from Netflix but a scam.
Request for Personal Information
The email is a scam if they are asking you to provide your Netflix account password or banking details. Netflix states on its website that it never asks for your personal information, or banking details or to make payment through a third-party website or vendor.
What To Do if You Receive a Netflix Scam Email
Avoid clicking on any links or opening any attachments in the email. Here's what you should do instead:
Report Phishing
Forward the email to Netflix at [email protected]. Netflix will analyze it to determine whether it's really a scam and alert its users about the threat.
Additionally, report the email as a phishing attempt to your email provider. In Gmail, open the email, click on the three vertical dot menu at the right side of the email, and click "Report Phishing." Gmail will move the email to the spam folder and investigate its content.
If the same email or sender is reported by multiple users, Gmail may take action and blacklist the sender. The Netflix scam email may also be used by Gmail to improve its spam detection system. This will prevent other users from falling victim to the scam.
Block the Sender
Next, you should block the sender to avoid receiving any scam emails from that email address in the future. Gmail will automatically move future emails from the blocked email address to the spam folder. The emails are kept in this folder for thirty days before being deleted permanently.
Recommended Alternative Option
If you want the Netflix scam emails to skip the spam folder and be permanently deleted upon receipt, you should try BlockSender. Available for use both through the web dashboard and as a Gmail add-on, this robust tool allows you to create powerful blocking rules. Here's how you can use the BlockSender Chrome extension to permanently block Netflix scam emails from a specific email address:
- Sign up for BlockSender.
- Download the Chrome extension.
- Link your Gmail account.
- Select the Netflix scam email.
- Click on the "Block" icon and select "Block selected emails".
- Select "Delete (skip trash)".
Note: Only select the "Delete" option if you're sure the email is really a scam as the emails cannot be recovered once deleted.
- Click "Create 1 Block".
What to Do If You Fell for the Netflix Email Scam
Sophisticatedly crafted scam emails look deceptively legitimate. If you realized the scam after falling for it, perform the following actions promptly:
-
Change your Netflix password
Change your Netflix password immediately if you accidentally disclosed the login credentials of your account. Use a strong password that is hard to crack, and don't reuse the same password across multiple accounts. -
Sign out of all devices
Go to your Netflix account settings and sign out of all devices to remove the scammer's access to your Netflix account. -
Recover Account
You can still recover your Netflix account even if a hacker has changed your password. This is easy to do if you've already linked your email address or added your mobile number to your account. -
Contact Your Bank
Contact your bank immediately if you mistakenly disclose your credit card, debit card or bank account details to the scammer in order to prevent any financial fraud. Keep in mind that Netflix never requests for your personal information.
Conclusion
It's easy to fall for a Netflix email scam if you only look at the sender's name to check where the email is from. However, you can avoid this if you pay close attention to other aspects of the email, such as the sender's email address, grammatical and spelling mistakes, and requests for personal information.
If you receive a Netflix scam email, avoid clicking on any links and attachments—forward the email to Netflix, report it as phishing and block the sender. If you’ve interacted with the scam, change your Netflix password immediately and sign out of all devices to secure your account.
