DWP issues 'be alert' warning to anyone claiming Universal Credit, PIP and state pension

The DWP issues the bulk of payment payments successful the UK, including the authorities pension, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an urgent informing to millions of benefit recipients astir scam substance messages.

The DWP has urged radical to ne'er click connected links oregon stock your idiosyncratic details if you person a random connection retired of the blue. It comes astatine a clip wherever galore enactment schemes person opened for the winter, including the Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Home Discount.

In the bulk of cases, you don't request to use for these payments and the DWP would not substance you to inquire for your idiosyncratic information. The DWP issues the bulk of payment payments successful the UK, including the authorities pension, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).

In a connection shared crossed X/Twitter and Facebook, the DWP warned: "Be alert of scam substance messages claiming to beryllium from @dwpgovuk. Always beryllium cautious astir links and ne'er stock idiosyncratic oregon fiscal details. Only prosecute with trusted authoritative sources. You tin study suspicious messages to @actionfrauduk oregon hunt https://gov.uk.”

It comes aft North East Lincolnshire Council warned of a suspected scam connection doing the rounds, which wrongly tells radical they are eligible for a outgo of surviving payment. The substance messages instruct the recipient to click connected a enactment and suggests the outgo volition beryllium made successful November by either the UK Home Office oregon DWP.

One of the messages reads: “UK Home Office announcement for you: According to the simplification of Winter heating subsidies, the surviving expenses subsidy volition beryllium paid arsenic a effect of the parliamentary decision. When you person the information, it means that you person obtained the qualification to apply. The exertion transmission volition beryllium closed connected October 19, 2024. “Please update the accusation successful the nexus and we volition administer the surviving allowance successful aboriginal November. Thank you for your enactment to the UK Home Office.”

What to bash if you've been scammed

If you fishy a scammer is calling you, bent up instantly and hunt for the interaction details online of the spot you're supposedly being called from. Never telephone backmost the fig provided by the caller. Contact your slope consecutive distant if you deliberation a fraudster has got entree to your account. You tin telephone the 159 hotline, which volition link you to your bank.

Passwords that person been leaked oregon compromised should beryllium changed immediately. Make definite you study scams and fraud to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, oregon done the Action Fraud website. If you're successful Scotland, study a scam done Advice Direct Scotland connected 0808 164 6000 oregon connected the Advice Direct Scotland website.

You tin besides study scams to Police Scotland connected 101. For scam emails, guardant them to report@phishing.gov.uk, and for scam substance messages, guardant them to 7726. You tin study dodgy websites to the National Cyber Security Centre.