Overview

• Scammers are sending texts and emails posing as the DWP or fictitious bodies such as a “Department of Pensions” or “Department of Energy,” using fake deadlines and links to capture personal and banking data.
• The DWP says it does not ask for bank details by text or email and urges people to forward suspicious messages to 7726, report incidents to Action Fraud, and use only official GOV.UK and Stop! Think Fraud resources.
• Most eligible people will get letters in October and November and receive Winter Fuel Payments in November and December without needing to apply, with only a small number of cases requiring a claim.
• Under this year’s rules, those with taxable income above £35,000 will initially receive the payment but HMRC will reclaim it later, typically through PAYE.
• Consumer advisers report a sharp rise in attempts linked to Winter Fuel Payments and the £150 Warm Home Discount, with Action Fraud logging hundreds of cases and Merseyside Police recording 64 DWP-related frauds over the past year.