New scam targets Netflix subscribers

MILWAUKEE -- The Better Business Bureau is warning Netflix subscribers of attempts by identity thieves to steal personal information.

Scammers lead Netflix subscribers to a phony webpage that resembles the real Netflix login page. After logging in on the fake page, the website tells the user their account has been suspended. The website gives the Netflix subscirber a fake customer service phone number.

The scammers have actual customer service representatives standing by who will recommend users download their Netflix support software. Once installed the fake Netflix software gives the scammer full access to the Netflix subscriber's computer.

“Netflix has a good reputation and scammers are taking full advantage of that,” says Paula Fleming, vice president for the local BBB. “Anyone using their video-streaming service could fall for this scam.”

Here are some tips on how to avoid this scam and others like it:

• Never let someone log into your computer remotely. When someone logs in, they can do anything you can do on your computer. They can access anything including personal and financial information.


• Do not click links in emails. It is better to type the address in the search bar manually.


• If the URL seems odd, do not continue to go to the site. If it is a scam, it will most likely have an unusual URL. It will likely contain a common name but be accompanied by jumbled letters or numbers.


• Always look up the business’ phone number on their website. If you need to call a business, look it up on their official website. This will ensure that you are calling a legitimate number.

 For more information, check out the Better Business Bureau website.