5 people lost $12,500 to Netflix subscription renewal spoof e-mail scam this month

At least five victims had fallen prey to phishing scams involving spoof e-mails from Netflix with total losses amounting to at least $12,500 this month, said police.

Victims would receive e-mails allegedly from trusted sources such as Netflix.

The scammers would trick recipients into clicking on a URL link to renew their subscriptions. Upon clicking on the URL links, victims would be redirected to phishing websites where they would be asked to provide their credit or debit card details and One-Time Passwords (OTPs).

Victims would only realise that they have been scammed when they discover unauthorised transactions made using their credit or debit card.

Take the following precautions when you receive e-mails claiming to be from trusted sources such as Netflix:

• E-mail domain does not match the merchant requesting for payment.
• Website URL appears dubious.

The police also advise following these crime prevention measures:

• Do not click on URL links provided in unsolicited emails and text messages
• Always verify the authenticity of the information with the official website or sources.
• Never disclose your personal or Internet banking details and OTP to anyone.
• Report any fraudulent credit/debit card charges to your bank and cancel your card immediately.

If you have information related to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. Please dial 999 if you require urgent police assistance.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688.