The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has warned about the increase in scams through SMS text messages to steal the data of Netflix accounts from users, taking advantage of the uncertainty caused by the end of shared accounts in the platform.

The streaming content platform ended the possibility of sharing an account between non-living users in the same household at the beginning of February. In this sense, it implemented measures such as the assignment of a main location for the account and the possibility of creating sub-accounts for users outside the home for an additional 5.99 euros to the subscription price.

As a result of these changes, cybercriminals have seized the opportunity and have launched ‘smishing’ attacks, that is, ‘phishing’ via SMS, trying to confuse subscribers in order to steal their username and password.

As explained by the OCU, the ‘modus operandi’ of malicious actors is based on sending text messages to users indicating that their account service has been suspended due to payment problems. Thus, the SMS explains to them that their account has been blocked or that there has been an incident with it.

Once the supposed problem has been reported, the attackers encourage users to enter “as soon as possible” in the link that is attached to the SMS to be able to log in again and solve the problem. However, the page that is accessed is a fake page that pretends to be Netflix.

In this way, through this ‘smishing’ scam, cybercriminals get users to enter their data on the fake page and steal the access credentials to the streaming content platform account.

The OCU has recalled that this type of attack was already carried out previously, however, given the confusion caused by the end of shared accounts, there has been an increase in this type of scam.

To check if it is a scam of this style, Netflix also has explanatory information on its help page. In this sense, the platform makes it clear that in no case will they request information about bank card numbers, bank account details or Netflix passwords through an SMS or email.

Similarly, the service warns that if the text message or email includes a link to an unknown URL, the link should not be clicked. “If you have already done so, do not enter any type of information on the website that has been opened,” he concludes.

Source: dpa

(Reference image source: Venti Views, Unsplash)

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