LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Authorities in Southwest Florida are warning residents about bogus Netflix emails going around that are aimed at stealing your personal information.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the email scam targeting Netflix subscribers across the nation appears to have made its way to Southwest Florida.
Caller to the Sheriff’s Office fraud line say they have received suspicious emails requesting updated account information in order to avoid suspension of their Netflix membership, reset or unlock their User ID, or update their billing information.
Although these “phishing” emails appear to be legitimate, customers who click on the hyperlink embedded in the email will be directed to a phony Netflix page and asked to enter their login information and credit card number. Once the cyber thief has obtained your personal data, it can be used to hijack other private accounts and rack up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges. In addition, clicking on the link in this random email could lead to malicious files infecting your computer, leaving you exposed to identity theft.
Netflix has posted a warning on their website with instructions on what to do if you suspect you have received a fraudulent email or clicked on a suspicious link from a website posing as the online streaming service at https://help.netflix.com.
The Sheriff’s Office reminds you to:
1). Never click on links, open attachments or enter your login or financial information in any email you receive unexpectedly.
2). Keep your antivirus software up to date and consider using a desktop and network firewall to reduce the odds of phishers infiltrating your computer or network.
Learn how to recognize and avoid email scams by visiting www.ftc.gov or by calling the Lee County Sheriff’s Office fraud line at 258-3292.
