TV licences email scam snares 5,000

FRAUDSTERS are stealing bank details through thousands of fake emails linked to the TV licence.

Experts at the cyber crime watchdog, Action Fraud, say they received more than 5,000 complaints in just three months.

The official-looking emails use headlines such as ‘correct your licensing information’ and ‘your TV licence expires today’ in an attempt to convince targets to click on a link to a website.

The fraudulent website then prompts them to add their payment details, including the Card Verification Value (CVV) code, account number and sort code.

Action Fraud warned: ‘With this information, fraudsters could drain bank accounts.

The bogus website may also ask for the victim’s name, date of birth, address, phone number, email and even mother’s maiden name.’

The scam is the latest effort by criminal gangs to hijack official services, such as the TV Licence regime, the HMRC and even Action Fraud itself, using so-called phishing emails, fake websites and telephone calls to steal bank details.

Action Fraud’s Pauline Smith, said: ‘Fraudsters are constantly using new tactics to trick victims into handing over their personal information.

A TV Licensing spokesman 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.’

Even Action Fraud itself, which is the official internet route to report cyber fraud, has been targeted. People searching for the watchdog have been directed to fake websites – such as actionfraud.com or actionfraud.eu – asking for personal and financial information.