TV licence scam: As Action Fraud reports a surge in cases here’s how to spot the signs
TV Licensing Scam: As Action Fraud reports an increase in customers being targeted via email, here’s how to spot the signs
- In the past two weeks alone, more than 3,400 TV licensing scams have been reported
- Action Fraud urges caution for anyone with a TV license
Action Fraud subsequently issued a warning via TV licensing scam emails it received more than 3,400 reports of this in the past two weeks alone.
The fraudulent emails state that the customer’s TV license is about to expire or that there was a problem with their last payment.
The links in the email lead to legitimate looking websites designed to steal personal and financial information.
Action Fraud urges customers not to click on links or use the numbers or email addresses provided in the message when in doubt.
On the rise: Action Fraud has seen 3,400 cases of TV licensing scam reports in two weeks
How to avoid TV licensing scams and how to report one
The first thing to check in any correspondence is that it contains your correct license number.
You can find this in letters TV Licensing sends you, or you can search your email inbox for emails from ‘donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk’ or ‘donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk’.
Official TV license emails contain your name and/or part of your zip code. Many scam emails just use your email address or say “Dear customer”, so this is a dead giveaway.
Scam emails will also often tell you that you need to make an urgent payment. However, TV Licensing says it will only email customers about payments if they’ve missed one.
Another tactic used by scammers is to claim they can offer a refund or a cheaper TV license. TV Licensing says it will never do this unless someone has contacted the company directly about a refund and responds.
Scammers often hide the real email address they are using, so check that the email address it comes from is one of the genuine ones listed above.
You can report scams or suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and the National Cyber Security Center will investigate. If the email links to a scam website, it will be blocked or deleted.
Anyone who thinks they have already entered their details on a suspicious site should report this online to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040.
If you entered card or bank account information, contact your bank immediately.