07/01/2019
TV Licence Scam Sees Thousands Targeted In NI
The TV Licensing authority has issued a warning about a scam doing the rounds in Northern Ireland after they received reports of around 2,500 fraudulent emails.
The suspect emails inform customers that they are owed a refund, or say their billing information is out of date and needs to be updated, before linking the target to a 'copycat' TV Licensing website.
People are then asked to input their personal and financial details on the unsecure and unofficial site.
TV Licensing has seen a rise in calls about the scam, and cyber crime watchdog Action Fraud confirmed that it has received around 2,500 reports of the suspect emails.
Alana Taylor, a spokeswoman for the organisation said: "In common with other large organisations like HMRC, TV Licensing suffers from fraudsters sending scam emails to the public posing as genuine communicators for the organisation.
"TV Licensing will never email customers, unprompted, to ask for bank details, personal information or tell you that you may be entitled to a refund.
"Anyone who has provided their details as a result of a fraudulent email should report it via ActionFraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If they have provided bank details, they should call their bank urgently."
The provision costs £150.50 and is required by law to watch live TV or download shows on the BBC iPlayer.
Below are some tips on how to spot scam emails:
• Look out for emails which don't include your name or which are addressed to your email address, as TV Licensing will never do this.
• If there are spelling or grammatical mistakes, an email is likely to be a fake.
• Assess how is the email written...does it seem too casual or familiar?
• Check the email subject. Anything like "Action required", "Security alert", "System Upgrade" or "There is a message waiting for you" should be treated as suspect.
• Check the email address. Does it look like a genuine TV Licensing address? For example, donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk.
• Hover over the links in the email to check if their destination is the official TV Licensing website. If in doubt, just go directly to the TV Licensing website.
(JG/MH)
The suspect emails inform customers that they are owed a refund, or say their billing information is out of date and needs to be updated, before linking the target to a 'copycat' TV Licensing website.
People are then asked to input their personal and financial details on the unsecure and unofficial site.
TV Licensing has seen a rise in calls about the scam, and cyber crime watchdog Action Fraud confirmed that it has received around 2,500 reports of the suspect emails.
Alana Taylor, a spokeswoman for the organisation said: "In common with other large organisations like HMRC, TV Licensing suffers from fraudsters sending scam emails to the public posing as genuine communicators for the organisation.
"TV Licensing will never email customers, unprompted, to ask for bank details, personal information or tell you that you may be entitled to a refund.
"Anyone who has provided their details as a result of a fraudulent email should report it via ActionFraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If they have provided bank details, they should call their bank urgently."
The provision costs £150.50 and is required by law to watch live TV or download shows on the BBC iPlayer.
Below are some tips on how to spot scam emails:
• Look out for emails which don't include your name or which are addressed to your email address, as TV Licensing will never do this.
• If there are spelling or grammatical mistakes, an email is likely to be a fake.
• Assess how is the email written...does it seem too casual or familiar?
• Check the email subject. Anything like "Action required", "Security alert", "System Upgrade" or "There is a message waiting for you" should be treated as suspect.
• Check the email address. Does it look like a genuine TV Licensing address? For example, donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk.
• Hover over the links in the email to check if their destination is the official TV Licensing website. If in doubt, just go directly to the TV Licensing website.
(JG/MH)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
02 December 2019
Relief As £107k Online Scam Foiled
An elderly woman from Co Down has been saved from an online scam worth almost £107,000. Fraudsters struck when the target, aged in her seventies, was searching online for investment opportunities in October. The woman gave her details to what she believed was a genuine company, but was in fact communicating with fraudsters.
Relief As £107k Online Scam Foiled
An elderly woman from Co Down has been saved from an online scam worth almost £107,000. Fraudsters struck when the target, aged in her seventies, was searching online for investment opportunities in October. The woman gave her details to what she believed was a genuine company, but was in fact communicating with fraudsters.
17 October 2019
Woman Loses £20k In Online Romance Scam
A woman from L'Derry has lost over £20,000 in an online romance scam. Police are calling for vigilance after a man, who claimed to be a soldier, contacted the victim online and persuaded her to send him her online banking details.
Woman Loses £20k In Online Romance Scam
A woman from L'Derry has lost over £20,000 in an online romance scam. Police are calling for vigilance after a man, who claimed to be a soldier, contacted the victim online and persuaded her to send him her online banking details.
23 November 2023
BCC Propose Making Pavement Café Scheme Permanent
Belfast City Council has called for views on their proposed pavement café licensing scheme, with consultation due to close on Thursday 30 November. The temporary scheme has been extended until 31 December with consultation now taking place on moving to a proposed permanent pavement café licensing scheme from January 2024.
BCC Propose Making Pavement Café Scheme Permanent
Belfast City Council has called for views on their proposed pavement café licensing scheme, with consultation due to close on Thursday 30 November. The temporary scheme has been extended until 31 December with consultation now taking place on moving to a proposed permanent pavement café licensing scheme from January 2024.
30 September 2021
Liquor Licensing Laws To Change From 01 October
Northern Ireland's liquor licensing laws are set to change for the first time in 25 years, with new legislation coming into effect from 01 October, 2021.
Liquor Licensing Laws To Change From 01 October
Northern Ireland's liquor licensing laws are set to change for the first time in 25 years, with new legislation coming into effect from 01 October, 2021.
30 June 2021
Liquor Licensing Legislation Passed By NI Assembly
A Bill to modernise NI's liquor licensing legislation has completed its final stage in the Assembly, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced. The Minister said that the licensing Bill was a priority for the her when taking up post and that she was delighted to deliver this much anticipated reform.
Liquor Licensing Legislation Passed By NI Assembly
A Bill to modernise NI's liquor licensing legislation has completed its final stage in the Assembly, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced. The Minister said that the licensing Bill was a priority for the her when taking up post and that she was delighted to deliver this much anticipated reform.