Martin Lewis has warned Brits to beware of a winter fuel payment scam. The Money Saving Expert was asked by a viewer on ITV’s This Morning show if a text message they received appearing to come from the DWP about winter fuel payments was a scam.
Lewis replied emphatically: « Yes, it’s a scam. Look, winter fuel payment this year will be automatically paid. It is a universal payment for state pensioners. Everybody is going to get that. There is no claiming mechanism. »
The finance expert did, however, add a caveat, telling viewers there is a small group of people who have deferred their state pension and are coming off state pension deferment who may need to complete an eligibility form on the Government’s website.
He said those affected by this would have to go to the Government to do so as they won’t be contacted to do it.
On the scam, Lewis said: « If you get a text, do not fill it in. They are trying to phish for your details so they can try and scam you in the future.
« And even if you reply to it, even texting « stop, no » to them, indicates you [have] a real phone number. Delete it. Don’t touch it. »
Chancellor Rachel Reeves sparked an enormous backlash when she axed the winter fuel payment for millions of Brits in her maiden Budget last year.
Amid fierce public pressure and a looming backbench revolt, the Government u-turned on the move, which Ms Reeves had hoped would help plug a multi-billion pound black hole in the public finances.
Most people in England and Wales will receive the winter fuel payment automatically if they are eligible. Anyone whose income is over £35,000, will see their winter fuel payment taken back by HMRC.
The Government has also warned of calls, emails or messages pretending to be from one of its services.
It has urged Brits not to share private information such as bank details or passwords or reply to text messages or download attachments or click on any links in emails if you are unsure if they are genuine.
Suspicious emails should be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk and text messages forwarded for free to 7726.
Misleading or scam ads should be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority. If you think you’ve lost money or been hacked because of an online scam or fraud and you’re in England or Wales you can report it to Action Fraud online or call 0300 123 2040.
