The popularity of Netflix makes it a preferred subject for phishing emails sent to people appearing to come from Netflix in which you are told you need to update your credit card information or asking for other personal information.  Reproduced below is a copy of an email I recently received.  The email may look legitimate, but it is important to note that nowhere does your name or account number appear and it is sent from an email address that has nothing to do with Netflix.   The Netflix logo appears on the email, but it is easy to counterfeit the Netflix logo and make the email appear to be legitimate when it is not.

Two things can happen if you click on the links in the email.  Either you will be directed to a phony but legitimate looking website where you will be prompted to input your credit card information and thereby turn it over to an identity thief or, even worse, merely by clicking on the link, you will download keystroke logging malware that can steal all of the information from your computer and use it to make you a victim of identity theft.  I have removed the links in the email below.

Your Netflix membership will be canceled!

Sorry for the interruption, but we’re having trouble authorizing your card. Visit the account payment page by clicking the button below.                                                                                                                                                              Your Account

Re-enter your payment information, or add a different payment method.

Questions? Visit the Help Center

Netflix International B.V.
This message was mailed to your account by Netflix because you are a former Netflix member.
SRC: 15964_en_

Unsubscribe   |   Terms of Use   |   Privacy

Copyright Netflix.

TIPS

As I always say, “trust me, you can’t trust anyone.”  You can never be truly sure when you receive an email seeking personal information such as your credit card number whether or not the email is a scam.  The risk of clicking on a link or providing the requested information is just too high. Instead, if you think that the email might be legitimate, you should contact the company at a telephone number or email address that you know is legitimate and find out whether or not the email was a scam.  In the case of Netflix you can go to their help center using this link https://help.netflix.com/en/

The biggest red flag that this is a scam is that the email address from which it was sent has nothing to do with Netflix.

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