A new scam warning has been sent out to millions of people who are due to receive a cost of living payment from the Government.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) announced on Monday that the first of three cost of living payments will start to be paid from April 25 for those on means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit. But the DWP has previously warned people who are due to receive a payment to be on their guard against fraudsters hoping to cash in on confusion.
Scammers will be taking advantage by targeting those who do not know how the payments are made and in posts on social media, the DWP reminded people that if they are eligible for a payment, they do not need to apply for it as the money will arrive in their bank account automatically.
Read more: DWP announces exact date £301 cost of living payment will start to hit bank accounts
You should receive your payment in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits. This will be the same for the money due from April 25 and other payments due at a later date. The DWP also reminded people that it will never ask for personal details in a text message or an email.
In a post of Twitter, @DWPgovuk said: "Watch out for scammers targeting people about #CostOfLiving Payments.
“If you're eligible
- You do not need to apply for the payment
- You do not need to call us
- Payment to you is automatic
- We will never ask for personal details by SMS or email.”
The new warning echoed the guidance on the official Cost of Living Payments page on GOV.UK, which said: "If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam." If you receive a text message like this, the DWP advises you forward it to 7726 in order to report it free to your mobile phone provider. Alternatively, if you receive a suspicious email, you should forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate it.
The £301 is the first of three instalments of the £900 DWP support package announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt during November’s Autumn Statement, with the other two due later this year and early next.
Around 395,000 eligible people in the North East should receive the money, with the first batch due to arrive between Tuesday, April 25 and Wednesday, May 17, according to the DWP. A spokesperson said that he was unable to narrow down the exact payment dates within the three-week window but confirmed that the two previous payments of £326 and £324 last year were mostly made within the first week and a half after the first possible date.
There will also be a separate £150 for more than six million disabled people nationwide and £300 for another eight million pensioners on top of their Winter Fuel Payments to help them meet their energy bills coming later this year.
According to the DWP, the payment reference for bank accounts will be DWP COLP, along with the claimant’s National Insurance number.
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