5 On Your Side warns of scam targeting Netflix users

Watch out for a scam making the rounds again in an email supposedly from Netflix.

5 On Your Side's Monica Laliberte says it's more of a concern now, considering Netflix gained nearly 16 million new subscribers just in the first three months of the year.

Netflix is a needed distraction right now for millions of people around the world.

So, getting an email with a subject line that says your membership is canceled and a message that Netflix is sorry to say goodbye, might make you say "what's going on?"

Sue Weekes, of Cary, got the email and questioned it right away.

The supposed problem: Netflix hasn't been able to resolve an issue with her membership payment.

To restart it, she only had to click the link.

"That morning I had just had the charge from Netflix," said Weekes. "Then I saw the email and I thought something's fishy."

She logged on to her account and didn't see any problems.

"I turned on my television to see if I could watch Netflix and it was fine," she said.

But the email looks convincing.

The Netflix address and phone number are accurate.

A red flag on closer inspection: the sender's email address to ….@hairdrayer.

Monica checked, it takes you to an Indonesian Facebook page, clearly not related to Netflix.

Know simply clicking phony links that look legitimate could let scammers install malware on your computer.

They could also take you to a phishing site where criminals steal your credit or debit card information.

"If I hadn't already had that alert from my credit card, I'm not so sure I would have known to be skeptical about it," said Weekes. "I just wanted everybody to know when they get these unsolicited calls and emails ... don't trust 'em."

"It pays to be a skeptic," Weekes added.