The Government have issued a warning over the latest cruel ploy, in which scammers take advantage of confusion surrounding the next cost of living payment.
Those eligible will get three Cost of Living Payments worth £301, £300 and £299.
The second instalment worth £300 is due to hit bank accounts in the upcoming months.
No date has been finalised however the government schedule says it will be distributed in Autumn.
Britons are warned: “You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits.”
This cash boost will be automatically paid out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
However, 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 previously said: “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.”
Britons are entitled if they get any of the following benefits or tax credits on certain dates:
· income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
· income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
· Income Support
· Pension Credit
· Universal Credit
· Child Tax Credit
· Working Tax Credit
The payment will be made separately from their benefit payments.
A DWP spokesperson said: “If you have had a message asking you to apply, accept or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam.”
The text message could read: “Your cost of living payment is ready – review and apply”.
Once the link is clicked on, the person being targeted is shown what looks like the GOV.UK site telling them to register to receive the £300 payment.
It then asks for a full name, contact number and address along with an email address and also a debit or credit card details to receive the payment.
The Government says suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk so they can be investigated by its National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Possible scam texts can also be forwarded for free to 7726 – this will report the message to your mobile phone provider.
