Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

DWP Text Scam Message
DWP Text Scam Message

Scammers are impersonating the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) via text messages, claiming to offer "winter fuel payments" or "living subsidies" to steal personal and financial details. These are fake. The DWP never requests bank details via text, and these payments are made automatically. Delete these messages immediately.

Common Scams

Scammers often use current news about government support to create a sense of urgency.

  • Winter Fuel Payment/Allowance: Claims you must "apply" or update details by a specific deadline to receive a £200 or £300 payment.
  • Energy Support Scheme/Grant: Offers an "energy allowance" or subsidy for rising costs.
  • Living Allowance/Expenses: Mentions a fake "UK Government Living Allowance Office".
  • Bank Verification: Asks for a small fee (e.g., £1) or card details to "verify" your account for a refund.

Spotting a Fake

  • Request for Personal Info: The DWP will never ask for bank details, PINs, or full personal information via text or email.
  • Urgency & Deadlines: Scams often use high-pressure language (e.g., "apply within 24 hours or lose payment") to stop you from thinking clearly.
  • Suspicious Links: Links often look almost correct (e.g., containing "gov" or "uk") but lead to non-official sites like rebrand.ly or lnk.ink.
  • Automatic Payments: In most cases, genuine Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically to those who qualify; no application is needed.

Received One

  1. Do Not Click: Avoid clicking any links or downloading attachments.
  2. Report It: Forward the suspicious text to 7726 (a free UK reporting service). You can also report it to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) or Action Fraud.
  3. Delete & Block: After reporting, delete the message and block the sender.
  4. Verify Directly: If you are unsure about your benefits, contact the DWP directly via the official GOV.UK website.
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