A real £100 energy bill payment is coming, but applications are not open. Texts and emails offering a way to claim it are scams, a council warns.
Texts and emails are going around with links to claim a £100 energy bill payment. The payment is real, but nobody can apply for it yet. Forest of Dean District Council says any message asking you to apply now should be treated as a scam.
The UK Government recently announced help with energy bills. Households in Council Tax Bands A to D are expected to get £100, paid from January. The government has not yet finished its guidance with local councils, so the exact process is not known. Scammers appear to be using the news to send messages with links about how to claim.
Anyone can get these messages. Households in Bands A to D are the likeliest targets, since they are the ones the real payment is meant for. The council says to be wary of any unexpected email, text or call that asks you to apply, share personal information or give bank details.
The warning follows an earlier report on Action Fraud's concerns about a scam in which criminals pose as Amazon staff. They call out of the blue and claim there is suspicious activity on your account. Fraudsters took nearly £90,000 from UK residents in only nine days. Some versions ask for bank details or passport photos.
The steps in the alert box above cover what to do. The council says it will post details on its website once the scheme is clear. Until then, anyone who is unsure about a message can contact the council using the details on that site.
You cannot apply for the £100 payment yet, so any message asking you to apply or share bank details is a scam.
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