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The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has posted a new social media warning that millions of people receiving benefits should be on the lookout for text messages from criminals trying to steal their “personal or financial details.” Across the UK, around 24 million people currently receive at least one benefit from the DWP, such as the State Pension, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
However, the DWP has taken to X and Facebook to urge: “Be aware of scam text messages claiming to be from @dwpgovuk.
“Always be careful about links and never share personal or financial details, only engage with trusted official sources.”
The department then urged anyone who received a suspicious text message to report it on GOV.UK by simply searching “avoid and report internet scams and phishing”.
It is thought that online criminals may be trying to capitalise on the ongoing cost of living crisis by pretending to be official government bodies like the DWP or HMRC, known as “impersonation scams”.
Other recent scam text messages have included unclaimed cost of living payments and the Warm Home Discount.
This latest warning comes shortly after the DWP warned people to be on the lookout for suspicious messages and emails inviting them to apply for Winter Fuel Payments. Fraudsters are exploiting confusion around the newly expanded scheme, which will see millions more pensioners across England and Wales receive up to £300 this year.
These payments will be issued automatically in November or December – nobody needs to apply for it.
There are several simple steps everyone can do regularly to spot and avoid potential scams. This includes not sharing your personal or financial information with anyone. This includes never writing your banking details down. If you do need to write down the details, make sure this is kept in a safe place and not taken with you when shopping.
Trustworthy retailers will never ask you for your PIN, CVC number, or other identifying online banking information.
Additionally, if you lose any of your bank cards or suspect they have been stolen, you should contact your bank immediately so they can freeze it. Many banks now let you do this from the app rather than calling up, which can help to speed the process along.
Finally, never reply to text messages or emails if you cannot be sure they are genuine. Do not click on any links when you are not sure if they are coming from a legitimate source. The same goes for downloading anything sent to you via email or text. It’s recommended to install antivirus software, which will scan for malware and protect you from phishing attacks.
