TV licence scam warning: how to spot the latest fake emails

TV licence scam emails telling you that it’s time to renew or that your ‘direct debit has been cancelled’ agave been hitting inboxes again.

The latest scam emails use pressure tactics to cause a sense of panic when read to push you into taking action immediately.

Including more serious threats to rush you into making payments. Here’s what they look like and how you can avoid them

TV Licence scams

TV Licence scam emails

Like many scam emails, this email uses convincing branding and even adds a ‘message ID’ number in an attempt to appear genuine.

The email informs you of a ‘direct debit cancellation notice’ and claims that your TV Licence ‘could not be automatically renewed’ due to something ‘going wrong’ with your payments.

It’s at this point that the more serious threats are made: if you don’t act quickly they may be ‘forced’ to cancel your licence or ‘pass your details to a debt collection agency’.

It’s these statements that the fraudsters are hoping will panic their victims into taking action. They want you to follow the email’s link to a fake website and enter your bank/card details.

How do I know if a TV Licence email is genuine or not?

If a communication you’ve received out of the blue is attempting to get you to take immediate action, treat it with suspicion. Take the time to look over the email carefully, noting the email address it was sent from and if the text feels generic.

If you’re unsure about an email you’ve received then do not follow any of its links. Instead, visit the organisation’s official website away from the email and log in to your account as normal and check for any issues.

If you’re still unsure, you can call TV Licencing on 0300 303 9695 to speak with someone who will be able to help.

A genuine TV Licencing email will address you personally, including your name or part of your postcode. If the email you’re looking at appears generic, it is likely to be a scam.

TV Licencing has an FAQ on scams (opens in new tab) which includes a downloadable booklet of advice on what to look out for: 

I think I’ve been taken in by a TV Licence scam email: what should I do?

If you think you may have entered sensitive information, such as your bank/card details, into a third-party site you were taken to by a suspicious TV Licence email, you need to let your bank know what’s happened via its official channels ASAP.

Usually, you can report a scam and get your money back. Your bank should work with you to cancel your card, block any pending payments (if required) and refund the money you’ve lost. 

You should also then keep an eye out for any follow-up scams that could occur if you’ve given contact details, such as your email address, postal address or phone number to fraudsters. Treat any contact you receive out of the blue with caution.

How can I report TV Licence scam emails?

Fake emails and phishing websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre at report@phishing.gov.uk (opens in new tab) - action can then be taken to remove these websites.

If you’re also going to warn friends and family about a fake email, send them a screenshot - never forward the email directly.

A TV Licensing spokesperson said: “We work with groups across the UK to raise awareness of how people can avoid becoming the victim of a scam. Genuine TV Licensing emails and letters are personalised to include details such as your name, partial postcode or licence number. If anyone is suspicious or doubtful about whether the correspondence is genuine they can call us or check online.”