Authorities have issued a warning over a scam targeting customers paying the £159 BBC TV licence fee, urging vigilance against fraudulent emails.
These fraudulent communications are cleverly designed to mimic official TV Licensing correspondence, enticing recipients with claims that their TV licence has expired and must be renewed immediately.
Don’t fall for it! Scammers are after TV Licence customers.
Embedded within these emails are links that lead to counterfeit websites, meticulously crafted to appear legitimate, with the sole purpose of harvesting personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.
SCAM Warning – TV Licence: consumers are cautioned to scrutinize emails claiming to be from TV Licensing, as scammers aim to capture financial details.
An alarming example of such an email implores recipients to:
“Please renew your licence now, it only takes a few minutes. Your TV licence expires on 17 February 2024. To renew, choose whether you want to pay monthly or all in one go, get your payment details ready and then it’s done for another year,” followed by a deceptive “renew now” button directing to the fraudulent site. The message further attempts to legitimize the scam by stating, “Renewing on time means more of the licence fee goes towards BBC TV, radio and online services. Thank you.”
North Yorkshire Police have recently sounded the alarm, cautioning households about this scam and highlighting specific warning signs to help the public avoid becoming prey.
Do you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer? A worrying scam is circulating which could drain your bank account https://t.co/iEeBJFFuNB
— GB News (@GBNEWS) February 25, 2024
Fake TV licence scam alert – if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, be wary of deceptive emails seeking your personal information.
While these scammers may also falsely claim eligibility for refunds or discounted licences, TV Licensing clarifies that such offers will only be made in direct response to customer inquiries about refunds. This also stands true for those accessing BBC iPlayer abroad.
Potential victims are advised to scrutinize emails for fake licence numbers and be aware that legitimate TV Licensing websites will never solicit sensitive information such as a mother’s maiden name or request card details without proper account verification.
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Chris Mack
