Netflix users beware, fake emails are circulating: here’s how to protect yourself

If you’re a Netflix user, watch out. There’s a new scam doing the rounds and it looks super convincing.  

Fake emails are being sent out, claiming there’s a payment issue with your Netflix account. But don’t be fooled, as it’s a scam designed to steal your personal information. 

Here’s how it works: 

• The email will tell you that your account’s been ‘put on hold’ and that you need to update your payment details to keep watching.  

• It’ll look like a real Netflix email, even down to the branding and design.  

• When you click the link, you'll be directed to a page that seems like Netflix's login page.  

• You’ll be asked to enter your username, password, home address and credit card details. 

• Once you enter that information, the scammers get access to your login and banking details, putting you at risk of identity theft and unauthorised payments.  

What do these fake emails look like? 

• The subject line says: ‘Let’s tackle your payment details?’ 

• The design looks polished and the text is well-written, without typos or unusual wording.  

• They mimic Netflix’s branding, logos, fonts and colours, making it difficult to tell they’re fake. 

• There's a red banner with a button that says ‘UPDATE ACCOUNT NOW’, which directs you to the fake login page. 

BUT, there’s a big clue that the email is fake. The email address is from an iCloud domain, not the official netflix.com address. Real Netflix emails will always come from a netflix.com domain.  

How to stay safe from scams like these  

• Always check the email domain. If the email comes from a generic address like iCloud, Gmail, or Hotmail, it’s likely to be a scam. 

• Always check the link.  Before clicking on any link, hover over it to see the URL (website address). Scammers often use URLs that look very close to the real thing but have tiny differences, so check closely.  

• If you’re unsure, don’t click. Never open unsolicited emails from Netflix or any other organisation. Contact them directly to confirm if there’s an issue. 

• Know a company’s policy. For example, Netflix will never ask for credit card details, passwords or banking information via email or text.  

• If you think you may have clicked on a suspicious link or entered any details, change your passwords immediately and keep an eye on your bank account for any unauthorised transactions.  

Get more tips on avoiding falling victim to scams in our guide on how to outsmart online scammers.