Millions of Netflix users warned of frighteningly realistic email scam that could steal cash
Phishing scammers have been increasingly getting more sophisticated over time, and one disguised as a Netflix email has demonstrated a dark side of AI technology.
This new email is made to look like it's from a major streaming service, and has utilized AI to have it constructed and sent out on a massive scale.
Being sent to and noticed by various users over the weekend, those looking through their emails may spot one said to be from Netflix with the subject, “Let's tackle your payment details”.
When having a look at the email, it can be incredibly convincing to anyone only speedily browsing through their newest messages without much thought. With the standard Netflix imagery with the brand-iconic red and white design style, the email will say: “Your account is on hold”.
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“We’re having some trouble with your current billing information. We’ll try again, but in the meantime, you may want to update your payment details”, it states further.
Underneath, you’ll not only spot an “Update Account Now” button in the brand-iconic red and white coloring, but there are even lower links to Netflix’s help center and contact pages.
When clicking the link to what appears to be an official Netflix page where one would sign in, you’re asked to enter your essential details like your Netflix account’s username & password, address, and card details — giving scammers all the information they need to steal your money.
The majority of email or SMS scams, stereotypically known of today, have at least a handful of discrepancies giving them away.
However, the only standout detail this one has is that it originated from an iCloud email account, whereas any official communication from Netflix via email would end with “netflix.com”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET, Jake Moore, elaborated on cyber criminals increasingly make use of AI to empower their scams.
He said: “Although phishing emails have been around since the birth of the email address, AI technology has now enabled criminal gangs to generate phishing campaigns at speed and to more email addresses than ever,' said Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET”.
“Cybercriminals have been taking advantage of AI to target email addresses in huge numbers and they are also able to make authentic looking login pages with ease to deceive users into divulging personal information or account credentials”.
“Like traditional phishing attacks, however, these scams will often still attempt to create a sense of urgency, prompting recipients to act quickly without verifying the true sender’s origin or even without thinking at all.”, Moore further stated.
Netflix has emphasized on its help website that the service will never ask you for such information via text or email.
While Moore recommended to log into your account after receiving communications to confirm which are genuine — in the event you already clicked on a phishing link or gave personal information — Netflix recommends you change your password, contact your financial institution, and forward the message you received to [email protected].