Overview
- The Department for Work and Pensions said on X that any text about the ‘Winter Fuel Payment’ or ‘Winter Fuel Allowance’ is a scam.
- Local councils highlighted messages sent from multiple numbers with links, false deadlines and instructions to reply “Y” to activate a link.
- Guidance urges people not to respond, to stop contact, and to contact their bank’s fraud team immediately if any details were shared, including via the 159 hotline where available.
- Suspicious texts can be forwarded free to 7726, phishing emails can be sent to report@phishing.gov.uk, and scams can be reported to Action Fraud or via the Stop Think Fraud website.
- Eligible pensioners typically receive £200, rising to £300 for those over 80, with entitlement based on being born on or before 21 September 1959 and payments potentially reclaimed through tax if taxable income exceeds £35,000.