TV licence scam email targets thousands in 'convincing' campaign

Action Fraud received more than 5,000 complaints in just three months

Households with people over 75 are entitled to a free TV licence (Getty/iStock)

Cyber criminals have targeted thousands of TV licence holders as part of a sophisticated email campaign designed to trick people into giving up their payment details.

Action Fraud revealed it has received more than 5,000 complaints about the "convincing" scam in the last three months, with the number of complaints rising each month.

Scammers use email subject lines such as 'correct your licensing information', 'billing information updates and 'renew now' to trick people into handing over their personal and financial information.

TV Licensing issued a warning to its website in response to the email scams, telling customers to be weary of suspicious emails.

A TV Licensing spokesperson said: "“TV Licensing will never email customers, unprompted, to ask for bank details and/or your personal information, or tell you that you may be entitled to a refund. We encourage anyone who has provided their details as a result of a fraudulent email to contact their bank urgently and to report the email to Action Fraud.”

A screenshot of one of the phishing scams shows an official-looking document requesting payment details.

"We have been trying to get in touch with you regarding an overpayment refund," the message states.

"Our old records indicate that you have paid more than you should have for your Licensing fees from 2016-2019. We have decided to refund you the total amount which you have overpaid. You have 24 hours to submit your refund."

Clicking on the link in the scam emails leads victims to a website prompting them to add their payment details, which the fraudsters can then use to drain their bank accounts.

Cyber security expert Jake Moore told The Independent how cyber criminals are going to more extreme lengths in order to trick people.

"Hackers will stop at nothing and this just proves that a well-designed phishing email linking to an equally reputable looking website can cause a large number of people to part with their most precious information," he said.

"It continues to be an uphill battle but we need to start taking time to read emails properly and not panic, as that’s what their attack vector relies on."

Action Fraud revealed last year that 2,685 reports about fake TV licensing emails were made in September and October alone.

“Devious fraudsters are constantly using new tactics to trick victims into handing over their personal information, often with devastating consequences. This is particularly nasty as it looks so convincing," said Action Fraud director Pauline Smith.

“It is vital that you spot the signs of fraudulent emails to avoid falling victim by following the protect advice below. We work tirelessly to stop fraudsters in their tracks and to prevent unsuspecting members of the public from falling victim to fraud. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it us.”