The point is they have as much to gain from encouraging people to believe they actively use "TV scanners" and you can't know when they are about with their vans

The point is they have as much to gain from encouraging people to believe they actively use "TV scanners" and you can't know when they are about with their vans as saying nothing. Cynically it gets your auntie talking, brings TV license to front of mind. It's doubtful they ever actually did such a thing.