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Residents have been reporting receiving emails about their TV licenses, which have turned out to be scams!
It’s called a phishing scam and is designed to steal personal and financial information. It was first identified by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) in September 2018 and they have received over 900 crime reports since then, with victim loses totalling more than £830,000.
In order to protect ourselves the advice is:
- Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails and never respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial details.
- Don’t assume a phone call or email is authentic, even if someone knows your basic details (such as your name or address). Criminals can spoof phone numbers and emails to appear as companies you know and trust, such as TV Licensing.
- Your bank will never call and ask for your PIN, full banking password, or ask you to transfer money out of your account.
If you are unlucky enough to fall victim:
- Let your bank know as soon as possible and monitor your bank statements regularly for any usual activity.
- If you suspect your identity may have been stolen check your credit file online. Use a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results.
- If you have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it to Action Fraud by emailing contact@actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.