Netflix Phishing Scam: Even the Savviest Streamers Can Fall Victim
AhnLab Security Intelligence Center (ASEC) has uncovered a new phishing campaign targeting Netflix users, where cybercriminals are impersonating the popular streaming service to steal sensitive information. With the increasing popularity of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms like Netflix, these phishing attempts have become more sophisticated, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious emails.
The phishing email is disguised as a notice from Netflix regarding a payment failure, urging users to update their payment information by clicking a red “Update account now” button. While the email appears professional, it is designed to deceive users into entering their login credentials on a fake site controlled by the attacker.
One of the most alarming aspects of this scam is the attention to detail. The email contains legitimate Netflix URLs for sections like “Help Center” and “Contact,” creating a false sense of security. The malicious URL, however, is linked only to the “Update account now” button, directing victims to a phishing site that has been carefully crafted to look like Netflix’s official website.
The phishing email uses a suspicious-looking domain, “netflix-team[.]com,” which closely mimics the real Netflix email address. Though subtle, this difference is enough to bypass many users’ suspicions. According to ASEC, this domain was likely created by the attacker solely for phishing purposes and is not associated with Netflix.
During their analysis, ASEC found that while the phishing URL was disabled at the time of the investigation, the attacker had embedded CSS files from other platforms like Facebook and Google in sub-URLs, suggesting that they may be running additional phishing campaigns across different platforms.
As phishing emails grow more convincing, it is important to exercise caution when dealing with unexpected emails, especially those requesting personal or financial information. SecurityOnline advises users to always verify URLs in suspicious emails before clicking on any links. It’s best to visit Netflix’s official website directly to confirm any payment issues rather than interacting with email links.
