Film fans were warned of an internet scam that is designed to steal credit card details.

The Regulatory Authority of Bermuda said an advertisement circulating on Facebook suggested a programme called MovieFlix can offer a streaming service like Netflix, but free of charge, if customers sign up before today.

It warned that the promotion leads users to an article that claimed Netflix has “lost thousands of Bermudian users this week because of the new competing service”.

A spokeswoman for the RA said that although the MovieFlix website appeared to be legitimate, every tab on the page linked to the same online form asking people to sign up for a trial membership.

She said the hoax had already appeared on posts in Australia and New Zealand with identical messaging and other countries targeted included Canada and Ireland.

Denton Williams, the RA chief executive, said: “Our role as an independent regulatory body is primarily to protect consumers and industry stakeholders.

“MovieFlix is an example of a phishing scam, designed to steal credit card details, Mr Williams explained. “Often these scams are linked to international organised crime and we strongly recommend that if consumers have already subscribed for the service, that they monitor their bank accounts or cancel their cards before their information is taken.”