HOUSEHOLDS who are waiting for their £650 cost of living payment have been issued an urgent warning.
The government is paying millions of hard-up households the money to help them as the cost of living bites.
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The cash is being given out in two instalments.
The first half, worth £326, should have hit most bank accounts by now – the deadline for claimants to be paid was July 31.
However, some people might not have received their money yet – this could be for a number of reasons.
Households in the North of England who have not yet received their cash are being urged to watch out for scammers.
North Yorkshire Police has warned of fraudulent texts asking people to click on a link and provide their bank details to receive their cost of living payment.
“This is a scam! Please DO NOT click on the link or provide your bank details,” the police force said in a tweet.
North Yorkshire Police said if you are eligible for the cost of living, you’ll automatically receive the payment straight into your bank account.
It added: “If you think you have been scammed please contact your bank immediately and then report it to us on 101 or by using our online reporting tool.”
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The Department for Work and Pensions has also warned on scammers.
On its website, it said: “If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits.
“You do not need to apply. You’ll be paid automatically. If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam.”
It means anyone still waiting for cash should be wary of texts, emails or calls asking them to apply for the payment.
If you think somebody is trying to scam you out of money, you can report them to the National Cyber Security Centre.
You can forward suspicious emails to: [email protected].
The cost of living help was first announced in May by former Chancellor Rishi Sunak in a bid to help Brits struggling with rising bills.
The payments will automatically be made to those receiving certain benefits including Universal Credit.
Although the deadline for most claimants to be paid has passed, the DWP has warned of delays issuing cash.
So if you haven’t received yours by now, contact the DWP for more information.
How to spot a scam
There are things to look out for that can help you spot a scam.
When people reach out to you via email or text, always think whether they are who they say they are.
Look out for poor spelling or phrasing.
A legitimate company such as a bank would have thoroughly checked any email they send to customers for mistakes.
You should also watch out for emails that have a general greeting.
Scammers will send out emails to lots of people – and so look out for whether your name has been spelt wrong, or if it says something like “dear customer”.
If you have any doubts you should call up your bank, or whoever the message seems to be from, and ask whether they have been in contact.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
