The Better Business Bureau of Acadiana is warning of a new scam that involves fake emails from Netflix or PayPal. And be careful, because scammers have crafted these emails to appear legitimate.
Scammers are sending emails to victims stating a Netflix or Paypal is on hold because of trouble with a billing address. Do not be fooled and do not take the bait. This is a phishing scam according to the BBB Acadiana and the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC outlines a phishing attempt is when someone uses fake emails or fake texts to entice you to divulge personal information such as account numbers, social security numbers, or login IDs and passwords. It is very easy to be tricked. Sometimes, these scammers use phishing to get access to your personal computers or work network. All it takes is to click on a link, and ransomware or a similar program will be installed on your device, allowing the scammer to access your data. Scammers tend to operate under a cloak of familiar companies.
Here are some tips from the BBB and FTC to use to protect yourself:
If you receive a suspicious email, don’t click on anything. Contact the company sending it directly.
Look at the email closely. Inspect the content and check for misspelled words and bad grammar. Also, check if your name is located in the body and check if you even have an existing account with the company. If your name is missing, it could be a scam.
Be sure to report fraudulent emails to the FTC. You can forward the phishing attempts to [email protected] or send the emails to [email protected].
Another way is to report email scams to ftc.gov/complaint or direct complaints to the Better Business Bureau bbb.org/scamtracker.
Visit the Better Business Bureau serving Acadiana to find out more! Call 337-981-3497 or visit bbb.org.
Source: BBB