The popular streaming services were last year named among the 20 brands most commonly targeted by online thieves.

Login details are often then either sold on the dark web or can even be the beginning of a series of unauthorised purchases charged to a customer’s bank account.

But account holders have to take responsibility for their own subscriptions to keep internet crooks at bay, a leading financial expert has urged.

Christo Georgiev, CEO of payment solutions company myPOS which is based at The Shard, said: “Many of us have at least one subscription to an online streaming service such as Netflix or Spotify.

“However, reports of customers having their accounts hacked show that it is more important than ever to be in control of our own personal data on the internet.

“This can sometimes be a precursor to more serious forms of data theft as thieves test the security of your bank accounts.

“Hackers will always look for new and innovative ways to access our personal details and we all have a part to play in keeping ourselves safe online.

“This can be done in a number of ways, including having strong passwords which are kept securely, or putting daily, weekly or monthly limits on credit and debit cards to prevent high-value fraud.

“Payment providers are regularly introducing new ways to keep your money safe online and it is vitally important to be aware of every tool available in the fight against fraud.”

Last year, research by cybersecurity firm DynaRisk named Netflix and Spotify among the brands most targeted by hackers – with Xbox and Sony Entertainment also on the list.

Hacked accounts can be bought online for a fraction of the regular subscription cost and the culprits are often hard to identify due to the anonymity and depth of the world wide web.

Users of Spotify forums regularly complain about someone else accessing their accounts, preventing them from listening to their favourite tunes while also adding unwanted songs to playlists.