People who pay for BBC TV Licence warned over 'red flag' email in inbox

People who've paid for a BBC TV Licence have been warned to check their emails for a "red flag" email now. People who pay for a BBC TV Licence have been told to stay vigilant and exercise caution over a spoof email hitting inboxes nationwide.

All Gmail and Outlook users must look out for two word red flag used in dodgy TV Licence emails. Flintshire Trading Standards Service warned "a number of email scams relating to TV licensing" are currently doing the rounds.

But each email begins with two words that TV Licencing says it never uses. Scam emails will often tell you that you need to make an urgent payment with an introduction of "dear customer" - something TV Licensing will never do.

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Emails from TV Licensing will always include your name, it says. A spokesperson for the watchdog explained: "The main points to look out for if you receive an email relating to your tv licence are genuine emails will only come from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk.

"Genuine emails from tv licensing will include your name and /or part of your post code. Scam emails usually start with Dear Customer." The Trading Standards spokesperson continued: "Scam emails will often tell you that you need to make an urgent payment - genuine emails will not do this.

"[And] scam emails may also offer you a refund or say that you are owed a refund. Again, genuine emails will not do this unless they are replying to an email query from you about such issues." TV Licensing says it will include the name and/or part of your postcode in emails.

It adds: "We send our emails from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk (or donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk). If you are a TV Licensing payment card customer and you make mobile payments via the TVL Pay app, you may receive emails from noreply@paypoint.com. The sender’s name will show as ‘TVL Pay’.

"Check the email address. Scammers often hide the true email address they’re using. On your device, select the sender’s name (or email address) to show the actual email address."