TV License Scam Email Messages

Spotting a Fake Email

Use these checks to verify any message you receive:

• Sender's Email Address: Genuine emails are sent only from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk or donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk. Be wary of "spoofed" addresses that look similar but have slight spelling differences.
• Personalisation: A real email will almost always include your last name and title (if provided) and/or part of your postcode. Scams often use generic greetings like "Dear Customer" or "Dear Client".
• Urgent or "Too Good" Requests: Scammers frequently claim there is an "issue with your payment" or offer a "refund" to create urgency. TV Licensing will never email you unprompted to ask for bank details or offer a refund via email.
• Spelling & Grammar: Look for awkward phrasing, random capitalisation, or the American spelling of "license" (with an 's') instead of the British "licence".
• Suspicious Links: Hover over links (without clicking) to see the actual web address. Genuine links will always go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk or spp.tvlicensing.co.uk.

What to Do Next

1. Do not click any links: Never enter personal or financial information on a site reached via an email link.
2. Verify independently: To check your status safely, go directly to the official TV Licensing website and sign in to your account.
3. Report the email: Forward the suspicious message to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk.
4. If you've already shared details: Contact your bank immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud (the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime) or call 0300 123 2040.