Households are being targeted by a new ‘Cost of Living Payment’ scam as crooks trick victims into sharing personal details to empty their bank accounts.
The Government has sounded the alarm over the latest cruel ploy, in which scammers take advantage of confusion surrounding a new grant to prey on victims.
The grant worth £900 will be paid to eight million low-income families – with the first of three £301 instalments landing in bank accounts between now and May 17.
Fake: Scammers are taking advantage of confusion over who is eligible for the new ‘Cost of Living Payment’, by targeting people via texts and emails
This cash boost will be automatically paid out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). But, scammers are taking advantage of confusion over who is eligible, by targeting people via texts and emails. The messages purporting to be from the DWP ask recipients for bank details to see if they could benefit from the windfall – and to enable any payment to be made.
Once this information is provided, the fraudsters can use it to go on a spending spree with their victim’s savings. A DWP spokesman says: ‘Watch out for scammers targeting people with the Cost of Living Payment grant. If eligible you do not need to apply or call us – payment is automatic. We never ask for personal details via text or email.’
For full details of who is eligible for the payment – which includes those receiving Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Universal Credit – and how it is paid, visit the Government website link gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment.
Helen Morrissey, of Hargreaves Lansdown, warns anyone receiving a text not to respond or to click on email attachments that might be included. She says: ‘Scammers are quick to take advantage of changing circumstances and payments.’
