Netflix spearheaded the streaming movement and changed at-home entertainment as we know it. For this reason, it remains one of the giants of the industry today. Scammers often impersonate well-known, trustworthy companies, making a household name like Netflix a prime target. With scam texts holding their spot atop the list of phone-scam threats, Netflix text scams were all but inevitable.
According to our research, the first half of 2023 saw 78 billion spam texts resulting in $13 billion in losses in the United States. These scams can take a steep financial and mental toll on their victims, so it’s crucial to understand how to prevent them.
Phone scammers steal billions of dollars from Americans every year, leaving them with drained bank accounts and lingering psychological effects. However, there are ways to protect oneself and fight back. Keep reading to learn about Netflix text scams and how to avoid falling for fake messages.
Netflix text scams are a specific type of smishing attack (which is a type of phishing scam) whereby fraudsters try to get valuable personal information from their targets by disguising themselves as Netflix. They hunt for sensitive data like credit card numbers, email addresses, and login credentials they might use to hack into other accounts. Some scammers go directly for your money, while others sell your stolen data on the dark web.
Smishing schemes like Netflix text scams all follow the same principles: Text the target while disguised as a familiar person or company, obtain sensitive information, and sell that information or use it to access other accounts and steal the victim’s money. These messages typically include links that download malware onto the victim’s device or direct them to a fake website that prompts them to input their information, which the scammers promptly steal.
In the case of Netflix text scams, scammers disguise themselves as Netflix and claim there’s an urgent problem with the user’s account or offer a fake promotion, encouraging the target to click a link to fix the issue or redeem the deal. The link is a trap, however, and any details the victim gives away may be used to steal their money, assets, or even identity.
Netflix text scams can be especially tricky because Netflix does send text notifications to subscribers who opt in, and these messages generally relate to the user’s account. However, Netflix will not ask for login or payment information via text, and they will never request payment through a third-party service.
Netflix has expressly stated they will never text customers asking for:
If you receive a text allegedly from Netflix and you’re not sure if it’s legitimate, contact the company directly through a publicly listed phone number or email address. If you never opted in for text notifications, the text you received that claims to be from Netflix is a scam.
Like other phone scams, Netflix text scams can take several forms. Fortunately, if you know what to expect, you can catch scammers in the act and avoid falling for their traps.
One type of Netflix text scam claims your account has been put on hold, possibly due to declined payments or suspicious account activity. The text contains a link and instructs you to follow it to input your credentials, update your information, and regain access to the streaming service. Unfortunately, the link actually sends you to a fake website where scammers can steal your information. Alternatively, it may download malware onto your device.
Scammers like to center scams around problems with payment or billing information because it allows them to target your most sensitive data right away. Some Netflix text scams claim you must update your payment details because your card expired or was declined. As usual, they send a link that allegedly allows you to update your financial information and reactivate your account, but your financial details go right to the scammer.
Although it’s become a popular premise for Netflix text and email scams alike, there is no promotion that gives you free service for a year. T-Mobile does provide customers with free Netflix memberships as a perk for signing up for certain plans, but they don’t advertise these plans at random via text. Additionally, T-Mobile Netflix memberships don’t expire after a year.
Many different types of scams involve the same kinds of tactics, which means they feature some of the same red flags. Some warning signs are easy to spot, while others are a bit more subtle. The quicker you recognize the signs, the quicker you can shut down the scammer.
You may have received a Netflix scam text if it:
Like other types of fraud, Netflix text scams can be dangerous. However, you can get out of it unscathed as long as you stay calm and follow the right steps. Here’s what you should do if you get a suspicious text that claims to be from Netflix.
Don’t wait to delete Netflix text scams from your messages — the longer you leave them there, the more likely you are to accidentally click a malicious link. Delete scam texts immediately, report them to the authorities, and block the sender so they can’t harass you again.
Although Netflix may not be able to reimburse you after a scam text, telling them about your experience may allow them to protect others from going through it themselves. You can forward Netflix scam text messages to phishing@netflix.com.
You can also report scam texts to the authorities to help them combat scammers and build their global databases. Getting your money back after being scammed can be difficult, but quickly alerting the authorities and giving them all of the information you can may improve your chances of catching the criminal.
You can report Netflix scam texts by:
Netflix text scams are much less scary when you know how to protect yourself. Keep the following tips in mind so you can squash them before they can do any damage.
If you’ve clicked the link in a Netflix scam text but didn’t give away any sensitive information, you might not be in trouble — as long as the link didn’t trigger a malware download. If you don’t enter your information, scammers can’t use it to steal from you. Follow these steps to minimize the damage and keep your money where it belongs.
Netflix text scams are just one iteration of the multi-billion-dollar text scam problem, but there are ways to protect yourself and take back your privacy. With the right spam-blocking app, you can fend off phone scams of any kind and block robocalls and scam texts before they can make it to your phone. That spam-blocking app is called Robokiller.
Robokiller’s 99% accuracy in spam blocking has prevented more than 600 million robocalls and saved users over $400 million in potential losses. Our unique algorithm is powered by machine learning, artificial intelligence, and years of industry experience. As scammers find new ways to scam, we continue finding ways to stop them.
Treat Netflix scam texts just like any other unwanted message: Don’t respond or click on links, delete and report the message, and block the sender immediately. Report them to Netflix by forwarding the message to phishing@netflix.com.
No. Netflix will never ask you for bank account numbers, credit card information, or any other type of payment details via text message.
You’ll generally only get legitimate text messages from Netflix if you sign up for text notifications, and you can customize what kind of text messages you get. If you get a text that claims to be from Netflix but you haven’t signed up for text alerts, it’s likely a scam.
The best way to eliminate Netflix scam texts from your phone is to download a comprehensive spam-blocking app like Robokiller, which blocks unwanted texts before they can even reach your phone.
