DWP text message scams are spreading fast, with criminals impersonating the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue & Customs to trick people who rely on state benefits and support payments. These fake messages claim the recipient hasn’t applied for a payment they’re already entitled to, pressuring them to click a link and hand over bank details. Both departments have repeatedly and publicly confirmed that genuine support payments are automatic, and Action Fraud along with charities like Independent Age have stepped up public warnings as scam volumes rise ahead of the November payment round — HMRC recorded a 153% jump in scam-text referrals in a single week alone.
What the Scam Texts Say and How They Work
Reported scam messages follow a strikingly consistent pattern regardless of which payment they impersonate. Most claim the recipient hasn’t yet applied for an unclaimed payment they’re supposedly waiting on — whether that’s a Cost of Living Payment, Winter Fuel heating allowance, or an Energy Support Scheme grant — and often quote a specific sum, ranging anywhere from £150 up to £750, to make the offer feel real.
The scheme being impersonated usually links out through a shortened or spoofed URL, built using link-shortening services and domains designed to resemble gov.uk. Clicking through lands the recipient on a fake application page asking for personal details like name, address, and date of birth, followed by full bank and card details.
A recurring tactic is requesting a small £1 verification payment, which exists purely to harvest working card information. This is paired with false urgency — a same-day or short-notice deadline warning that the application window is about to close and the claim funds will be lost if action isn’t taken immediately.
Many of these texts arrive as group messages sent to multiple recipients at once, often from a hijacked or spoofed mobile number designed to look like a legitimate sender. Recognising this pattern is often the fastest way to spot a fake before reading past the first line.
What DWP and HMRC Say — Official Response
DWP has stated plainly and consistently, across multiple warnings, that it does not send text messages about payments. Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has confirmed that Cost of Living, Winter Fuel, and Energy Bills Support payments are all paid automatically to those who qualify, with no application process required for most recipients.
A DWP spokesperson separately confirmed that Cost of Living payments in particular are sent out automatically and directly to eligible customers, who do not need to apply, call, or contact the government in any way. Any message asking someone to accept a payment or contact someone should be treated as a likely scam.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme adds a further wrinkle, since it’s a now-closed scheme that officially ended on 1 April 2024 — meaning any text referencing it today is automatically fraudulent. HMRC’s Digital Defence Lead has echoed this warning, noting that scammers are actively exploiting public confusion around changes to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules.
Independent Age’s Chief Executive has urged pensioners not to act on unsolicited messages of any kind, stressing that eligible payments arrive without any action needed from the claimant. This alignment across government departments and charities is a strong signal that the underlying rule is simple and unchanging.
How to Spot a Fake DWP or HMRC Text
Certain red flags show up again and again in these messages, and knowing them cuts through the panic these texts are designed to create:
It asks you to click a link to apply for, accept, or claim a payment
It asks for bank details, card numbers, or a small payment to “verify” identity
It uses urgent language — a 24-hour deadline, a “final notice,” or a closing window
It references a scheme that’s already ended, such as the Energy Bills Support Scheme (closed since April 2024)
It misuses official branding like DWP, HMRC, or gov.uk in the sender name or message body
It arrives from an unfamiliar mobile number, sometimes as part of a group text sent to unknown recipients
Any single one of these should be enough to pause before responding — genuine departmental communication simply doesn’t work this way.
What to Do If You Receive a Scam Text
The safest response is also the simplest: do not click any links, do not reply, and do not call the number given or provide personal or financial information. Forward the message to 7726, a free service that reports it directly to your network provider and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), who use these reports to get scam numbers blocked.
Once you’ve reported it, delete the message. If you’re ever unsure whether a text claiming to be from DWP is genuine, you can forward it to 60599, and a reply will confirm whether it’s legitimate — this is a useful middle step if you’re not ready to dismiss a message outright.
If you’ve already responded and shared details, contact your bank immediately to secure your account and stop any further payments going out. You should also report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101 or Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 instead.
For further support, Citizens Advice Scams Action is reachable on 0808 250 5050. Suspicious emails, separately from texts, should be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk, and suspicious websites can be reported through the NCSC’s online reporting form. Acting quickly on any of these steps limits the damage a scammer can do with stolen details.
Cost of Living Payment Scam — the £750 Text
One separate scam text tells recipients they’re eligible for a £750 Cost of Living Payment and are ready to take action by accepting the payment through a fake link designed to look like an official GOV page. DWP has confirmed this is entirely fraudulent.
Cost of Living Payments, where still applicable historically, were always sent automatically with no application or acceptance step required at any point. Eligibility for these historic payments was tied to receiving Universal Credit, tax credits, Pension Credit, or other legacy benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support — never to responding to a text.
Anyone contacted about “accepting” a Cost of Living Payment today should treat it as an immediate red flag, since no live scheme currently requires this kind of action from claimants.
Winter Fuel Payment Scam Surge — a 153% Rise
HMRC data shows scam-text referrals mentioning Winter Fuel Payments rose by 153% in the final week of September compared with the week before, as scammers moved to exploit public confusion around the government’s policy reversal on means-testing for the payment.
This confusion is understandable — some newly eligible claimants genuinely never received a Winter Fuel Payment before, and others who deferred their State Pension may need to actively apply, while everyone else simply receives it automatically. Scammers deliberately blur this distinction to make their fake texts sound plausible.
Rachel Vahey, head of public policy at AJ Bell, has warned pensioners specifically not to respond to unsolicited voicemails, emails, or texts requesting personal information, even when they reference genuine eligibility rule changes. The presence of a real policy shift doesn’t make an unsolicited message legitimate.
Energy Support Scheme Scam — a Closed Scheme Still Impersonated
The Energy Bills Support Scheme officially ended on 1 April 2024, which is exactly why DWP has flagged any text referencing an “Energy Support Scheme” or home energy allowance today as automatically fraudulent.
Reported versions of this scam ask recipients to complete an application before a set date, often 6 June, warning that they’ll lose eligibility permanently if they miss it. The message directs them to a phishing link that harvests both personal and card data, frequently paired with the same fake £1 verification charge seen in other scam texts.
Because the scheme itself no longer exists, this is one of the easiest scam patterns to identify — there’s simply nothing left to apply for.
General Benefit-Impersonation Scam Warnings
DWP has issued broader warnings that aren’t tied to any one specific payment, covering claimants of State Pension, Universal Credit, PIP, Attendance Allowance, and Jobseeker’s Allowance. The advice here is to stay wary of any texts claiming to be from official-looking senders such as @dwpgovuk that ask for personal or financial details.
Official guidance is consistent: stay cautious of links in unexpected messages, and never share personal or financial details via text under any circumstances. Suspected phishing attempts should always be reported through the official GOV.UK page for avoiding and reporting internet scams and phishing.
Having worked through a fair amount of consumer-scam content over the past year, what stands out with this particular wave is how closely the scammers track real policy news — the Winter Fuel eligibility changes are a genuine story, and that’s precisely why the fake texts referencing it landed so well. The lesson holds regardless of which benefit is named: a text is never how these departments confirm or request anything.
FAQs
Do I need to apply for DWP support payments like Cost of Living or Winter Fuel?
No. For any genuinely active scheme, payments are made automatically to those who qualify based on existing DWP or HMRC records. You do not need to apply, call, or confirm any details unless DWP contacts you directly by letter.
Will DWP or HMRC ever ask for my bank details by text or email?
No. Both departments have confirmed they never request bank or personal details by text message or email. Any message doing so should be treated as a scam and reported rather than responded to.
What number should I forward scam texts to?
Forward suspicious texts to 7726, a free service that reports the message to your network provider and the National Cyber Security Centre.
How can I check if a text claiming to be from DWP is genuine?
Forward it to 60599 and you’ll receive a reply confirming whether the message is legitimate. This is a quick way to verify before you decide whether to ignore or report it.
What should I do if I’ve already clicked a link or given out my details?
Contact your bank immediately to secure your account and stop any pending payments. Then report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or in Scotland, to Police Scotland on 101 or Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.
Is the Energy Bills Support Scheme still running?
No. It ended on 1 April 2024, so any text referencing it today is fraudulent regardless of how official it looks.
Who is being targeted by the Winter Fuel Payment scam specifically?
Primarily pensioners and people of State Pension age, with scam volumes spiking in the weeks around the November payment window as scammers try to exploit confusion over eligibility changes.
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