The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam

Recipients of "TV Licensing Renewal" emails like the one below are asked not to click on the link in them. This is because the emails are fakes being sent by cybercriminals who attempting to trick their potential victims into visiting phishing websites that steal credit card information. The phishing websites fake TV Licensing website that looks like the legitimate one at.

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The TV Licensing Renewal Phishing Scam

The Fake "TV Licensing Renewal" Email

From: TV Licensing donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk - 597487689 chihiro@jms-japan.net

Date: 20 February 2019 at 18:12:38 GMT

Subject: Our Ref: TVL1-782421000637 | Licence status: Expiry tonight | 20 February 2019 | - 653263725

Important TV Licensing Information

The link in the fake email goes to a phishing website that steals credit card information by requesting it in order for the visitors to receive their so-called TV Licensing refund. If the credit information is submitted on the phishing website, it will be sent to the cybercriminals who will use it fraudulently. Therefore, persons who have already been tricked by the scam are asked to contact their banks for help. They should tell their banks that they have unknowingly used their credit card on a phishing website.

Remember, the legitimate TV Licensing website is located at:

So, it is recommended that recipients of emails from TV Licensing Refund Confirmation should ensure that the link in them go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk. To determine where a link goes, hover your mouse pointer over it. Or, click on the link and ensure the website address in the browser's address bar starts with: www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 28)

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July 3, 2020 at 9:52 AM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
info

"From: TV-Licence - DirectDebit Alert

Sent: 03 July 2020 02:33

Subject: Your TV Licensing | Complete the application form - Renew now |

TV Licensing logo

Direct Debit Alert

Date: 7/3/2020 2:33:32 a.m.

Hi

We're sorry to let you know that the TV Licence could not be automatically renewed.

As we couldn't take the latest payment from your bank account, this amount will also need to be paid when you set up your new Direct Debit.

Set up now

Please keep this email safe, as it tells you how to update your licence details. If you ever need to change anything, just sign in to your licence."

Another scam.

Delete

June 28, 2020 at 1:46 PM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
info

"Subject: Complete the application form | Pay for your TV Licence | 6/27/2020 2:53:45 p.m. | Review information | 53699100

Date: 27 Jun 2020 14:53:49 0100

From: [Tv Licence - Television licensing in the United Kingdom - Direct.Debit] <plfmwhv234006gcmlmnlp@telenet.be>

TV Licensing logo

You are licensed until 6/27/2020 2:53:45 p.m.

Hi

Thanks for choosing to pay for your TV Licence by Direct Debit.

We're sorry to let you know that the TV Licence could not be automatically renewed.

As we couldn't take the latest payment from your bank account, this amount will also need to be paid when you set up your new Direct Debit.

Please click here and set up new direct debit payment.

Remember, if you don't keep up with your payments, we may be forced to cancel your licence or pass your details to a debt collection agency.

Please keep this email safe, as it tells you how to update your licence details. If you ever need to change anything, just sign in to your licence.

Thanks, TV Licensing"

Here is another scam.

Delete

June 20, 2020 at 11:14 PM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
info

"Important information about your TV Licence. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

TV LICENSING

24/7 Support: 020 7084 1772

mailto:X*X — TV Customer Number: 10088539133

Important information about your TV Licence.

Your bank has declined the latest Direct Debit payment.

We tried to take the latest payment from your bank account but we encountered an error, so you must pay the amount by setting up a new Direct Debit.

A charge can be declined for a variety of reasons, some of which may not be related to the validity of the credit card. In many cases you simply need to update the expiration date. For more information on why the charge may have been declined, please contact the bank that issued your card.

If you don't update your credit card in the next 2 days, your TV Licence will be cancelled.

Overdue balance of: GBP 7.95"

Here is another scam.

Delete

June 20, 2020 at 7:39 AM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
an anonymous user from: Exeter, England, United Kingdom

Hope this is of some use. This is plain text from the original:

"Important information about your TV Licence.

TV LICENSING

24/7 Support: 020 7084 1772

mailto:X*X — TV Customer Number: 10088539133

Important information about your TV Licence.

Your bank has declined the latest Direct Debit payment.

We tried to take the latest payment from your bank account but we encountered an error, so you must pay the amount by setting up a new Direct Debit.

A charge can be declined for a variety of reasons, some of which may not be related to the validity of the credit card. In many cases you simply need to update the expiration date. For more information on why the charge may have been declined, please contact the bank that issued your card.

If you don't update your credit card in the next 2 days, your TV Licence will be cancelled.

Overdue balance of: GBP 7.95

E-Mail Address: mailto:stevewellington64@yahoo.co.uk

hxxps://ip-198-12-255-207.ip.secureserver.net/tws"

We hope that you are able to resolve this issue promptly.

Delete

May 14, 2020 at 11:07 PM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
info

"From: support <support@leidos.com>

Sent: 14 May 2020 11:35

Subject: Your tvlicense Customer Care Team

Dear Mr/Ms,

This email confirms the tv license subscription:

Product Name: TV License

License Number: 35CF6C96B3

Receipt Date: 5/14/2020

Membership Price: £154.50

To confirm your subscriptions, click below.

Confirm your tv license Confirm Subscription ID4A5B1E3"

Here is another scam.

Delete

May 7, 2020 at 10:55 AM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
an anonymous user from: United Kingdom

fixitbay.com/a

aarohanclasses.in/.a/

These two urls are involved with the TV License phishing...

Delete

May 1, 2020 at 2:44 AM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
an anonymous user from: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

I have now received 2 fraudulent emails regarding tv licence renewal from @telenet.be

Always check senders email address. TV licences expire by date NOT time and date.

I have reported both emails to noreply@phishing.gov.uk

Delete

April 29, 2020 at 9:34 PM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
an anonymous user from: Clinton Township, Michigan, United States

I received this email. I live in the US, and this does not apply to me at all

Delete

April 13, 2020 at 11:07 AM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
an anonymous user from: Hertford, England, United Kingdom

Here is a good one -

"TV LICENSING - DIRECT DEBIT ALERT

Tomorrow is your last chance to remain licensed.

You won't be covered if you let your licence expire.

As we couldn't take the latest payment from your bank account, this amount will also need to be paid when you set up your new direct debit.

Setup your new direct debit.

To change your payment method, have a look at all your options.

So, all you need to do is make sure there's enough money in your account.

Or, if you prefer to pay the missed amount now, you can sign in online and pay using your debit or credit card.

While you're signed in, please make sure we have your correct bank details.

ID reference 45676543

Date 13.04.2020

Support | Legal | Privacy | Unsubscribe"

Delete

March 22, 2020 at 4:37 PM by
The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam
info

"From: TV-Licensing[UK] Customer-Direct Debit <xldhowk@telenet.be>

Sent: Friday, 20 March 2020, 00:11:00 GMT

Subject: 'YourLicence Direct.Debit TV Licensing' [NO: TV886498031935]

Dear TV Licensing Customer,

We are sorry to let you know that the TV License could not be automatically renewed. Something's gone wrong with your payments.

As we couldn't take the latest payment from your bank account, this amount will also need to be paid when you set up your new Direct Debit.

Setup Direct Debit now

Remember, if you don't keep up with your payments, we may be forced to cancel your license or pass your details to a debt collection agency.

Details:

TV Licensing Number : 368252958

Licensed Email :

You are covered until 20/3/2020 01:10:54"

Received this scam.

Delete

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

The "TV Licensing Renewal" Phishing Scam