Public warned to be vigilant over winter fuel scam

Police are warning residents to be cautious over a seasonal scam – known as the winter fuel scam – in which fraudsters attempt to trick unsuspecting individuals into handing over their personal and financial information.

The scam involves people being contacted by swindlers via text, email or phone and asked to apply for a winter fuel payment or a warning them that they haven’t applied for it yet. 

They’ll then be directed to a fake government website to ‘claim’ their payment.

It’s at this point individuals will be encouraged to share their personal and bank details, giving fraudsters the information they need to access money in personal bank accounts.

“The key thing to remember is that in the UK, those who are eligible for a winter fuel payment will automatically receive it,” said Cyber protect officer Mick Harrison.

“The government will never contact you by text, email or phone to ask for your bank details or other personal information, in order to ‘process’ the payment.”

 “We’ve seen that fraudsters tend to target elderly and vulnerable people. So please, if you know someone who could be a potential target for this type of scam – please make them aware so they can protect themselves and their money.”

What to do if you’ve been affected:

If you’ve been affected by this scam or one similar, particularly if you have disclosed any financial information or lost money, please inform your bank immediately and report to the police.

• Informing your bank: call 159 to connect directly to your bank's fraud department. Note: most, but not all, telecom providers offer this service.
• Report fraud to the police: please call 101 or complete an online report: Report fraud, bribery or corruption | Devon & Cornwall Police

Individuals who have been targeted by a scam or fallen victim can also contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at Action Fraud.

Tips to keep you safe:

• If you are eligible for a winter fuel payment, it will be sent to you automatically. You do not need to apply or provide your details
• Don’t share personal information. Government agencies will not ask for your bank details, PIN, or passwords over the phone, via text, or in an email
• Do not click on links in suspicious messages - if you receive a text or email claiming to be about the winter fuel payment, do not click on any links. These links lead to fraudulent websites designed to steal your information
• Look for red flags. Scammers often create a sense of urgency, using phrases like ‘act now’ or ‘deadline approaching’ 
• Check for spelling and grammar errors in the message, this can be a tell-tale sign
• If you receive a suspicious text, email, or call, simply block the sender and delete the message