TV licence conmen are targeting pensioners forced to cough up after the Tories’ election manifesto betrayal.
Fraudsters are contacting OAPs in a scam aimed at swindling the elderly who face having to fork out to watch their favourite shows.
Age UK has sent older people emails in a bid to raise awareness of the conspiracy.
It says: “We are getting reports that people are being targeted by fraudsters who want to make money from the TV licence scandal.
“They pose as TV Licensing and ask people to pay up now or tell you there’s been a problem with your payment.”
Hoping to convince OAPs not to fall victim to the cruel predators, the message adds: “If you are over 75, you are eligible for a free TV licence until June 2020.
“Any letters, texts or emails which ask you to pay your TV Licence now are a scam.”
The Conservatives promised at the 2017 election to protect the benefit for the rest of the Parliament, due to run until 2022.
But the BBC was handed responsibility for funding the lifeline from June 2020, under a deal stitched up in 2015.
The Beeb estimates keeping the current entitlement will cost £745million a year.
It plans to curb the benefit, meaning just 1.5 million OAPs are likely to continue receiving free licences when restrictions take effect.
From next June, only over-75s receiving Pension Credit will be eligible – meaning 80% of over-75s, some 3.7 million people, will have to stump up £154.50 to watch their favourite shows.
Labour ’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said: “It is a disgrace that there are some TV Licence scammers trying to defraud some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“They should be ashamed of themselves.
(Image: Anthony Harvey/REX)
“This Tory Government should urgently rethink its decision to scrap millions of free TV licences.
“We already knew it would leave older people worse off and more isolated.
“Now we know it could leave them vulnerable to these despicable fraudsters too.”
Bectu broadcasting union chief Philippa Childs said: “It’s clear that the Government, by passing the buck for free TV licences, has left elderly viewers and listeners in a state of uncertainty and confusion.
“By continuing to shirk their responsibility to fund this social benefit they have left older people vulnerable to being targeted by scammers.
“We are saddened to hear of Age UK’s recent warnings.
“Instead of distancing themselves from a crisis of their making, the Government should take full responsibility for the confusion that had been caused and show respect to the over 75s and give a commitment to properly fund the BBC.”
Boris Johnson attempted to dodge blame for the betrayal when tackled by the Mirror in August.
He said: “The BBC received a settlement that was conditional upon their paying for TV licences for the over-75s.
“They should cough up.”
(Image: Getty)
But a corporation spokesman said at the time: “It was the Government who decided to stop funding free TV licences for the over-75s and Parliament gave responsibility to the BBC to make a decision on the future of the scheme.
“There was no guarantee that the BBC would continue to fund free licences for the over-75s, as the Culture Secretary at the time has confirmed.
“We’ve reached the fairest decision we can in funding free TV licences for the poorest pensioners, while protecting BBC services.”
