Scam warning issued over fake TV licence emails doing the rounds - what to look out for

Householders are being warned about scam TV licence emails that are hitting inboxes across the country.

All Gmail and Outlook users are being asked look out for 'red flags' in the fake 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, reports BirminghamLive.

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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."

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."