Scam library · United Kingdom · Updated 20 October 2026
TV Licence email scams: what they say, how to spot it, what to do
A warning about a cancelled licence can make an email difficult to ignore. Check through the account or paperwork you normally use before making a payment.
What they say
Illustrative examples, written in our own words:
- Your TV Licence has been cancelled because the last payment failed.
- You must update the Direct Debit before tonight to avoid further action.
- An overpayment refund is ready if you enter your card details.
- Download the attached licence notice and follow its payment instructions.
How to spot it
- The message pushes you to an attachment or payment link before you can check the account.
- An urgent warning switches to demands for card details, passwords or security codes.
- The sender’s display name, logo or a familiar address is presented as enough proof.
What to do now
- Open the TV Licensing service independently, using your own saved account or trusted paperwork.
- Compare the payment claim with your records. Contact the service through the details you find there if necessary.
- Do not open an attachment just to find out whether you owe money. Forward the suspicious email using the reporting route below.
If you already paid or shared details
Call your bank immediately on the number on your card, using a trusted device. After hanging up, 159 can connect you to participating UK banks; coverage and call charges depend on your provider. Explain what you sent or shared and ask about stopping payments and securing the account.
If you entered a password, change it through the real service and change other accounts that use it. If you opened an attachment or installed software, stop interacting with it and use the NCSC’s phishing guidance for the next steps.
Under Payment Systems Regulator rules, UK banks and payment firms must refund most eligible authorised push payment (APP) scam losses from UK Faster Payments transfers made on or after 7 October 2024, up to £85,000 per claim. This means you were tricked into authorising a transfer. Eligibility and exceptions apply. Cards, cash, international transfers and crypto payments are not automatically covered by this rule. Report promptly and ask the bank to explain its assessment, any excess and the relevant deadlines.
Keep messages and payment references. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud). In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Forward suspicious SMS texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, following GOV.UK reporting guidance. For message apps, use the app’s report and block tools. Reporting a message does not replace contacting your bank about a payment.
Questions people ask
What if my licence really is due for renewal?
Check and renew through the service you open independently. A real renewal date does not prove an unexpected email is authentic.
Should I open the attachment to check the amount?
Check through your normal account or trusted paperwork instead of opening an unexpected attachment.