Scammers are targeting benefit claimants with convincing text messages designed to steal money straight from their bank accounts.
An urgent alert has been issued as criminals exploit the Warm Home Discount Scheme to trick vulnerable households.
The Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero has warned that fraudsters are sending bogus messages to people on six means-tested benefits, just as official £150 energy discount letters begin landing on doormats.
Officials say claimants must be extra vigilant in the coming months as scam activity is expected to rise.
Fraudsters are targeting households with fake texts and emails designed to steal bank details by exploiting the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The messages claim people must apply for the £150 energy bill support and hand over personal information but officials have confirmed this is a scam.
The Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero has warned families not to respond to any electronic messages about the scheme, stressing they are all fraudulent attempts to drain bank accounts.
The Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero has warned families not to respond to any electronic messages about the scheme
| GETTYIn reality, the Warm Home Discount is applied automatically. The £150 is sent directly to energy suppliers by the government and credited to customers’ bills, meaning there is no need to provide bank details or submit an application.
This automated process ensures eligible households receive their discount without any administrative burden. The reduction appears directly on energy bills without recipients needing to contact their supplier or government departments.
Officials stress that legitimate communications about the scheme arrive exclusively through postal letters, never via electronic messages.
Warm Home Discount is applied automatically
| GETTYRecipients should understand that any request for banking details or application submissions represents fraudulent activity, as the genuine scheme functions without requiring personal financial information.
Qualification for the scheme requires recipients to be named on their energy bill whilst claiming specific government support.
The six eligible benefits include Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit and Universal Credit.
An expanded 2.7 million households join the scheme this year, bringing total beneficiaries to over six million across the country
| GETTYAn expanded 2.7 million households join the scheme this year, bringing total beneficiaries to over six million across the country. The increase ensures broader support for vulnerable households facing energy costs.
Official notification letters began distribution from mid-October, with delivery continuing through December.
Recipients in England and Wales meeting the criteria should await their postal confirmation rather than responding to any electronic communications claiming to represent the scheme.