Fraudsters are targeting households across Britain with a growing number of Winter Fuel Payment scams.
The Department for Work and Pensions has warned of a surge in fake messages impersonating the DWP to trick people into handing over personal details and banking information.
One recent example circulating falsely claimed: "Our records show that you have not yet submitted your application for the 2025–2026 Winter Fuel Payment."
The text urged recipients to apply by September 25 2025 to receive a £300 allowance and directed them to a fake website, designed to look like an official government page.
Officials stress this is a fraudulent message.
Genuine Winter Fuel Payments are usually paid automatically to eligible recipients and do not require applications via text or email.
Police say scams of this kind are increasing.
In Merseyside alone, 64 cases of DWP-related fraud were reported between June 2024 and July 2025.
A DWP spokesperson told GB News: "We never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for Winter Fuel Payment purposes."
They added: "If you have any doubt whether a text is genuine, forward it to 7726 and you will receive a reply confirming if it's legitimate."
Genuine Winter Fuel Payments are usually paid automatically to eligible recipients and do not require applications via text or email
|GETTY
The rise coincides with recent changes to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, which criminals are exploiting to create confusion among pensioners and other recipients.
Scammers use texts, emails, phone calls and letters to deceive people, often sending them to websites designed to copy official DWP pages or giving them numbers to call.
Once victims engage, they are persuaded to reveal sensitive data such as bank details, which are then used to steal funds.
The department confirmed that most payments are made automatically, with only a small number of people needing to apply, such as those who have deferred their state pension.
A DWP spokesperson said: "We never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for Winter Fuel Payment purposes."
| PAApplications for Winter Fuel Payments can be made up to March 31 2026, but only through the official government website at gov.uk.
Detective Sergeant John Causton from Merseyside Police’s Economic Crime Team said: "These criminals are deliberately targeting some of our most vulnerable community members during a time of transition with benefit changes."
He said police are working with partners and regional crime units to identify offenders, but stressed that public awareness is essential to preventing more victims.
Warning signs of scams include unsolicited messages demanding banking details, urgent deadlines threatening loss of payments and requests for fees or card checks.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
HMRC shared an example of a scam email which tries to steal innocent people's personal and financial details | HMRCSuspicious texts should be forwarded to 7726 for verification. Fraud incidents can be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their website.
Residents are urged to alert elderly relatives and friends about the scams and to seek information only through official channels at gov.uk.
Additional guidance is available at gov.uk/StopThinkFraud, while anonymous information can be reported to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Victims in Merseyside can also access support from Victim Care Merseyside by calling 0808 175 3080.