Holiday SCAM Alerts

Holiday SCAM Alerts

RISD Communications

December 30, 2021

Scammers do not take a break for the holidays. Please keep yourself safe by staying aware of the following scams.

Holiday Scams

With the holiday season in full swing, cybercriminals looking to take advantage of the hustle and bustle. We encourage everyone to take extra precautions to avoid landing on Santa’s naughty list, or worse, falling victim to these holiday cyber scams. Share these tips with your team to help them protect themselves and your organization. CLICK HERE to become familiar about ways scammers try to obtain your personal and financial information. 

Netflix Scam Double Feature

(Courtesy of The KnowBe4 Security Team, KnowBe4.com)

Netflix is both the world’s largest streaming platform and one of the most impersonated brands among cybercriminals. There have been many Netflix-themed scams over the years, but most of these scams target one of two groups: current Netflix subscribers or potential Netflix subscribers.

To target current Netflix subscribers, cybercriminals send phony email notifications claiming there is a problem with your billing information. To target potential Netflix subscribers, cybercriminals send emails that advertise a deal for new accounts. Both phishing emails include links that lead to Netflix look-alike webpages where you’re asked to provide your personal and payment information. Any information you enter on these fake webpages is delivered straight to the cybercriminals. 

Remember the tips below to stay safe from streaming scams:

  • Never click on a link within an email that you weren’t expecting, even if the email appears to come from a company or service you recognize.
  • These types of scams aren’t limited to Netflix. Cybercriminals also spoof other streaming services, such as Disney+ and Spotify. Remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. 
  •  If you receive an unexpected notification, open your browser and navigate to the platform’s website. Then, you can log in to your account knowing that you’re on the platform’s real website and not a phony look-alike website.