By Jordan Coussins
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has fired off a fresh warning through its social media outlets, urging millions of benefit claimants to keep their wits about them in the face of scam text messages seeking to swipe their “personal or financial details”. A staggering 23.7 million people across Great Britain currently receive some form of DWP benefit including State Pension, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Broadcasting alerts on X and Facebook, the DWP admonished: “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.” Read more: Popular city centre restaurant closes suddenly Further, it urged individuals confronted with such dubious texts to report them by visiting GOV.UK and searching for ‘avoid and report internet scams and phishing’. Amidst the present cost of living squeeze, cyber tricksters may be pretending to be established government bodies like the DWP or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), engaging in so-called ‘impersonation scams’, as disclosed by the Daily Record. Previous scam attempts have included bogus texts concerning ‘unclaimed cost of living payments’ and the Warm Home Discount scheme, reports the Mirror . Moreover, the DWP is alerting Britons to be vigilant about fishy messages and emails urging them to apply for Winter Fuel Payments, which are ordinarily issued automatically in November or December without any application needed. These messages often include ‘direct links’ for making a claim – something the DWP never does. Usually, Universal Credit claimants will be contacted by their Work Coach via their online journal. If you receive a text and are unsure whether it’s genuinely from a DWP department, the Government, Social Security Scotland or HM Revenue and Customs, the safest course of action is to ring them for confirmation. Simple steps to dodge scammers. Here are some quick checks everyone can perform regularly to identify and evade potential scams. Never disclose your financial or personal information. Avoid sharing your personal or financial details with anyone. This includes refraining from jotting down your banking information. Memorising your details is the safest option, but if you need to write them down, ensure they’re stored securely and not carried around while shopping. Reputable retailers will never request your PIN, CVC number or other identifying online banking information. Regularly review your bank statement. If you spot an unfamiliar transaction, it’s crucial to notify your bank immediately to have the card blocked. Most banks operate a dedicated fraud action line where you can report the theft and ask for a refund. Keep tabs on your cards. Should you misplace any of your bank cards or suspect they’ve been nicked, contact your bank straight away so they can freeze it. Many banks now offer the convenience of carrying out this process through their app, saving you the hassle of a phone call and speeding up the procedure. It’s always a good idea to have your bank’s contact details and telephone number handy, just in case you need to reach them. Beware of dodgy emails or text messages. If you’re unsure about the authenticity of an email or text message, it’s best not to respond. A golden rule to remember is never to divulge private, personal information. This includes sensitive details like your banking information or passwords; no trustworthy company should ever ask for these. Emails or texts littered with grammatical mistakes could be a sign of a phishing scam from a bogus source, so it’s wise to avoid opening these. Avoid suspicious links. Don’t click on any links if you’re uncertain about their legitimacy. Steer clear of downloading anything sent to you via email or text message. It’s recommended to have antivirus software installed, which can scan for malware and protect you against phishing attacks.