'Free Netflix' coronavirus offer is actually a scam: Don't click on this

Netflix
(Image credit: Shutterstock; Netflix)

No, Netflix isn't joining the ranks of the many streaming sites giving out extended free trials to help folks stuck at home during the COVID-19 quarantine. It could happen — we just saw news of CBS All Access's 1 month trial deal, after all — but this is actually an attack. 

Graham Cluley (an independent security consultant) blogged about the attack over at Bitdefender, but we didn't even need to read his post to learn about this situation. One of our own staff writers was texted by the malicious scammers. 

Distributed by SMS texts and WhatsApp messages, the message suggests Netflix is giving out free access to its Premium tier (which has 4K streaming, and usually costs $15.99 per month). Cluley shared a screenshot that pushes the user to act fast — and not think twice about their own security. The message reads: "Run on the site cause it will end quick!" 

The big red flag? You don't see Netflix.com in the URL in that text. Instead, it features the domain name "netflix-usa[dot]net." The scam text sent to a Tom's Guide staffer uses an even odder domain name, "flix2years33[dot]xyz" — which clearly looks scammy.

netflix scam

(Image credit: Future)

How scammy is it? Well, after you get to the site, it shows you a ticker of how many free accounts are up for available, and then asks you to share the link with 10 of your friends (we don't think that pyramid schemes will ever go out of style). 

As for what happens next, we didn't click through; we don't trust these crooks and their links nearly that much. But we wouldn't be shocked to hear that they ask you to share important personal information, or download an application — likely laced with something nasty — onto your device.

Don't click, report instead

Right now, it's pretty simple to keep these malcontents off your back. Just don't open the URLs in these texts. Netflix does not reach out via text, and nobody who's trying to send you free Netflix deals should be trusted. 

And don't trust texted links, even if the URL doesn't look sketchy at first glance. It's easy to imagine a trickier-looking link that uses a capital i in the place of a lower-case L, to write netfIix.com. Looks close enough, right? Especially to unsuspecting targets.

There are also Spanish-language variants of this scam, that appear to be sent as push notifications.

Next, report the texter to WhatsApp, or block them in your phone. In WhatsApp, on the top of the message screen, tap the scammer's name, scroll down and tap Report Contact. For SMS texts on an iPhone, tap the icon bubble at the top of the screen, tap Info, tap the contact row, scroll down and tap block. On Android, click the three dot button in the top right corner of the message window, select People & Options and tap Block twice.

Actual free streaming services

Trying to find something to watch, without paying? Check out PlutoTV, a fine free streaming service that has tons of content (with ads), including major films and current TV shows (it even had the Star Trek: Picard premiere!).

TOPICS
Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Latest in Online Security
Windows
240 million Windows 10 users are vulnerable to six different hacker exploits — protect yourself now
Victims of Identity Theft
FTC says Americans lost $12 billion to scams last year and these were the worst ones — here's how to stay safe
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review.
Apple just released an emergency security update for a flaw used in an ‘extremely sophisticated attack’ — update your devices right now
A person trying to set up a new Wi-Fi router
Thousands of TP-Link routers have been infected by a botnet to spread malware
An image of a CAPTCHA
Hackers are using reCAPTCHA to trick users into infecting their own PCs with malware — how to stay safe
A smartphone screen displaying the Android name and logo next to a sign reading 'MALWARE'.
Fake Google Play Store pages are spreading Trojan malware that can steal your financial data
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Sunday, March 16 (#644)
Nintendo Switch 2
New Nintendo Switch 2 FCC filing suggests this beloved Nintendo controller could make a comeback
(From L to R) Rohan (Nik Dodani), Josh (Brandon Flynn), Dorothy (Edie Falco), John (Dean Norris), and Liddie (Lisa Kuthrow) in The Parenting
Max top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
NYT Strands on a cellphone
NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #378 (Sunday, March 16 2025)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE renders
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE price leak is bad news for budget-conscious buyers
Google Assistant
Gemini to kill off Google Assistant on most Android phones — here's what you need to know