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Original poster

Scam email-TV licence update

22 replies

BHStowel · 23/12/2018 13:57

I’m pretty savy but almost fell for this.

Email from TV license people saying my Direct debit hadn’t gone through and I need to deal with it in two days or debt collectors will get involved.

I knew I was near my OVerdraft limit due to Christmas! Thank goodness I checked my bank-all okay.

I just thought I’d remind you all to be careful. I’m telling my elderly parents too. They have email but it frightens them and this might have sent them over the edge.

Happy Christmas!

OP posts:
Lepetitpiggy · 23/12/2018 13:59

Dh did fall for it! He realised very quickly though - when he checked the ref number. He never ever falls for these, so it shows how good it is. At least he got onto his bank straight away. Worrying though

AviatorShades · 23/12/2018 14:05

I had this too...

delete,delete,delete..it looks credible tho, doesnt it? Scamming BastardsAngry

0ellenbrody0 · 23/12/2018 14:08

I hadn’t this too. Realised it was fake but there’s still a bit of doubt isn’t there? I started imagining ‘Can’t pay we’ll take it away’ type scenarios.

BillyAndTheSillies · 23/12/2018 14:10

Almost fell for it too. And then remembered the TV licence is in DH's name not mine.
Probably the most convincing scam email I've seen in a while.

katseyes7 · 23/12/2018 14:12

l've had a few of these over the past two weeks. The sender's email address is a dead giveaway, if you're vigilant. l can understand how people are taken in though, it does look pretty convincing.

WeCameToDance · 23/12/2018 14:14

Oooh, i had a very similar one that had me thinking twice. Mine said something like my tv license is due to expire. It wasnt really what it said though that made it so convincing. It was laid out so well and the email address did look like it could be an unmonitered bbc account.
Luckily I remembered I had paid my tv license the day before and it definitely wasnt expiring any time soon. Just wanted to let people know as they may be sending a few different emails.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 23/12/2018 14:14

I had something similar from 02 and stupidly fell for it, updating my bank details. Till a day later I clicked on the email and it led me to a porn site. Luckily I blocked my card and nothing was taken, though I found out through the bank someone keeps trying to buy things online with my old details.

Original poster
BHStowel · 23/12/2018 14:17

The email address made it obvious. I’d not usually fall for it. It’s just I’m spending more money than I should because of Christmas and birthdays. I was in a panic mode.

I had got as far as going to the P.C. rather than dealing with it on my phone. I’d sat down to transfer money . I then thought

Utter bxstxrds

OP posts:
Lepetitpiggy · 23/12/2018 14:25

DH fell for it as we've had a hugely stressful few weeks , and he thought maybe he hadn't renewed his dd, due to all the things that had been going on! He was furious with himself when he realised

ChipInTheSugar · 23/12/2018 14:30

I almost fell for it too as I had just paid the quarterly bill and changed address. I'm sure it will catch a fair few people out.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 23/12/2018 14:40

I fell for it too, but quickly realised and cancelled cards. A moment of un hinging is all it takes.

Mind you, in future I’d probably rather delete a genuine email than fall for that again.

ikltownofboothlehem · 23/12/2018 14:40

I have a few of these. Luckily I knew the licence had renewed last month and that the DD had already gone out. The email address was an online vape store.

LowbrowVictoriana · 23/12/2018 15:17

DH and I have both had these several times in the past month.
They don't know our email addresses as we set up our DD years ago.
Also when the email starts "Dear Customer" as these emails do, then that should ring alarm bells. If it were genuine they'd know your name!

LowbrowVictoriana · 23/12/2018 15:18

*I meant the real TV licensing people don't even know our email addresses.

Original poster
BHStowel · 23/12/2018 15:59

I was going to email the real tv licence people to let them know. Checked their website to see they know of these scams, there is information on their website about them.

OP posts:
Coffeebean76 · 23/12/2018 16:33

Thank you for the warning!!! I got the same email a couple of days ago and was meaning to click on the link and update my card details !!!

Fottfsoftfusm · 23/12/2018 18:53

Licenseplus is the website to avoid, that’s not genuine. If you google TV Licensing the dodgy website is the first one to appear on the page.

YoloTF · 23/12/2018 18:59

Ooooh i had it too. My direct debit bounced too so thought it was legit, but then 2 days later I got another one saying the bounced one will come out of my next direct debit. I was wondering why debt collectors would come out for 1 missed payment Confused

Windgate · 23/12/2018 19:14

DH fell for it, we are coping with two recent bereavements so he assumed we'd made an error. Bank were brilliant but it gave us a scare

tablelegs · 23/12/2018 19:20

I got this too today.

AdaColeman · 23/12/2018 20:34

DIL received the email today, but I'd already warned her due to this thread, so she realised straight away!

Thanks for spreading the word!

thebigmaniswatching · 23/12/2018 21:10

I’ve been getting them for a few weeks now, panicked for a split second until I remembered that I don’t even pay the license, DH does!

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