The latest TV Licensing scam has been exposed following more than 6,000 reports of fraud in just two weeks.
Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting service for fraud and financially motivated cybercrime, broke down the latest scheme devised by fraudsters.
They urged billpayers to watch out for several tell-tale signs of a scam amid concerns that fraudsters could adapt the scam.
Action Fraud revealed that it had received an astonishing 6,307 reports within two weeks relating to persusasive fake emails supposedly from TV Licensing.
The fraudsters behind the scam use the fake email to target innocent Britons and steal valuable personal details and financial information.
The emails often warned people that their TV Licence was about to expire.
Other similar emails reported an issue with the billpayer’s latest payment.
The fraudsters then link to convincing websites – but the websites themselves are a scam designed to steal information.
In an example published by Action Fraud, the email reads: “We were unable to take a payment for your @Licence number: 3295105, as your bank has declined the @Direct Debit payment request.
“This may have happened because your bank details have changed. To make sure you stay licensed, please provide new @Direct Debit details now.
“Once you have done this, you can also update any other details if required.”
Action Fraud urged Britons to contact the organisation directly if they have doubts about the validity of a message.
A spokesperson from Action Fraud said: “Don’t use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website.
“Your bank (or any other official source) will never ask you to supply personal information via email.”
TV Licensing has also urged people to “stop” before they enter personal or financial details.
They said: “Remember, we will never call to ask for: Your mother’s maiden name. Your date of birth. Your card details.”
Officials from TV Licensing also said that scams often say “dear customer,” while genuine TV Licensing emails and letters are personalised to licence holders to include details such as name, partial postcode or licence number.
A TV Licensing spokesperson said: “We take the protection of our customers extremely seriously and work with groups across the UK to raise awareness of how people can avoid scams.
“We’d encourage anyone who is suspicious or doubtful about whether correspondence is genuine to call us or check our website where there is guidance on how to spot scams.”
