Broadcast contribution - counterfeit invoices in circulation

In Hesse and Saxony in the past days, bogus invoices have landed in the mailboxes. This is reported by the contribution service of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio on its online portal. Thus, the false letters were distributed as mail dispatches. The beneficiaries are requested in the letter to transfer the broadcasting contribution for the months April to June 2013 amounting to EUR 53.94 due to a system change to an account of the Landesbank Berlin.


At first glance, the forgeries are hardly to be distinguished from the original cover letters. Therefore, the subscription service requires that incoming payment requests be checked closely. The most striking difference is in the address. While the original letter always addresses the recipient directly, the recipient's address is the counterfeit "To all private households in the contribution area the United States". Also the contribution number looks different. While in the original, a nine-digit number is printed in triplets, the falsification is more than nine digits in a column without spaces. You can see a sample of the original cover letter on the website of the subscription service.


Buying advice: The best 42-inch TVs


The contribution service advises to ignore the fake writing and to dispose of it. The specified account has already been blocked. Whoever has already paid the amount, should be automatically refunded by the bank. The subscription service has reported to the police.