Scams going around · Emails

Netflix account on hold email scam

Pretends to be Netflix billing. An email or text that looks like it's from Netflix says your account is on hold because of a payment problem. It gives you a link (words or a web address you tap or click) to fix it. The link opens a page that asks for your card number, bank details or Netflix password, so a scammer can take them.

An example of what it can look like

Not a real message: the details are made up.

Netflix Billing <billing@netflix-account-hold.example>

Dear Member, your account is on hold because of a billing problem. We could not process your last payment. To keep watching, go to https://netflix-account-hold.example/update to update your payment details. Thank you, The Netflix Team

How to tell

• It asks for your card number, bank details or Netflix password. Netflix says it never asks for these in an email or text.
• It has a link (words or a web address you tap or click) to update your payment. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a U.S. government agency, says real companies don't send a link for that.
• It asks you to pay on a different company's website. Netflix says it never asks for payment that way.
• It greets you in a general way, like "Dear Member." The FTC lists a general greeting as one sign of a fake email.
• The sender's email address, or the web address in the link, doesn't look like it belongs to Netflix.

What to do

• Don't tap or click the link (the words or web address that open a page), and don't reply to the message.
• Don't type your password or card number into any page the message opens.
• Check your account yourself: type netflix.com into your web browser (the program you use to visit websites) and sign in.
• Report the message (see "Where to report it" below). After you've reported it, delete it.

If you already tapped, paid, called or replied

1. If you tapped or clicked the link (the words or web address in the message), close the page without typing anything. Then go to netflix.com yourself and change your Netflix password to a new one you use only for Netflix.
2. If you typed your Netflix password, also change the password on any other website or app where you used the same email and password.
3. If you entered card or bank details, call your bank or card company. Use the number on the back of your card or on your bank statement.
4. If you think a scammer has your card or bank account number, go to IdentityTheft.gov. It shows the steps to take for what you lost.

How to check for real

Netflix does show a real "account on hold" message when it can't process your last payment. So check for yourself, without using anything in the message. Type netflix.com into your web browser (the program you use to visit websites) and sign in. If a payment really did fail, you can update or change your payment method there.

Where to report it

• Forward the email or text to Netflix at phishing@netflix.com.
• If it came as an email, also forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org.
• If it came as a text message, also forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Free guides that go with this

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Where this comes from

Written from these official warnings, checked 2026-09-25. Lantern is not part of any organization named on this page.

• Netflix Help Center: Phishing or suspicious emails or texts claiming to be from Netflix
• Netflix Help Center: Your account is on hold because of a problem with your last payment
• FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams
• FTC: About the FTC