Warning over fraudulent TV subscription offers targeting viewers

Television users - particularly older viewers - are being warned not to share personal details with cold-callers claiming to offer discounts on television subscription services after 300 cases of such fraud were reported this year.

Action Fraud has reported that fraudsters are cold-calling victims claiming to be from a television provider.

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They are offered a discount on their monthly subscription and told: their subscription needs to be renewed; part of (or all) of their TV equipment has expired; or they are due an upgrade on their equipment/subscription package.

Alarm bells

Victims are then asked to provide their bank details, and sometimes ID documents like a scan of a passport, to process the discount. Your service provider will already hold this information - so don't tell someone these details over the phone.

Fraudsters are using the information to make transactions using the victim’s bank account details.

Action Fraud added the further information: “The fraudsters are using the following telephone numbers: “08447 111 444”, “02035 190 197” and “0800 151 4141”. The fraudster’s voices are reported to sound feminine and have an Asian accent.”

Action Fraud has said the victims aged over 66 appear to be the most targeted.

This sort of fraudulent activity has reportedly seen a rise with 300 cases being reported since the start of the year.