Pensioners Warned Over Winter Fuel Payment Scam Texts

Scammers have hijacked another popular news story to increase the effectiveness of a phishing campaign – in this case, one related to the government’s recently announced cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners.

UK policing group the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) Network urged the elderly to be on the lookout for texts claiming to come from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Home Office.

“The scam includes a link that directs users to a fake government website designed to gather personal information. The messages contain links where you may be asked to provide personal details or make a payment,” it explained.

“You should never click on the link, provide any personal details including bank details or make any sort of payment.”

Read more on threats to pensioners: Elderly People in the UK Lost Over £4m to Cybercrime Last Year

Various recipients of smishing texts from scammers have published warnings about the content on X (formerly Twitter).

Most encourage the user to click on a link to complete their ‘application’ for a winter fuel subsidy by a specific deadline, claiming that all British citizens can apply.

“Scammers are targeting older people with texts offering alternative Winter Fuel Payments. Remember, the UK Government will never ask for your personal or banking details by text,” said the commissioner for older people for Northern Ireland, Eddie Lynch.

“Stay vigilant, protect your info, and share this warning.”

🚨 Winter Fuel Payment Scam Alert 🚨
Scammers are targeting older people with texts offering alternative Winter Fuel Payments. Remember, the UK Government will NEVER ask for your personal or banking details by text.

🔒Stay vigilant, protect your info, and share this warning! pic.twitter.com/11a2EmnF8T

— COPNI (@COPNI) November 7, 2024

Scammers Go Mobile

In a controversial move, the new Labour government cut winter fuel subsidy payments to some pensioners as part of its efforts to balance the books.

The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 will effectively mean that people who don’t receive pension credit or other benefits won’t receive the subsidy either.

Given the huge amount of discussion about the controversial policy, it was only a matter of time before scammers used the news to their advantage. It’s a classic social engineering play which, when combined with a pressure deadline, could trick some of the more vulnerable members of society into handing over their personal data and/or money.

Two-fifths (40%) of elderly adults in the UK experience mostly phone-based fraud attempts on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, according to a study released in July.

Three-quarters (75%) of attempted fraud recorded by the survey was conducted via telephone – 60% through voice calls and 11% via text messages, according to the University of Portsmouth.