DWP issues scam warning ahead of £300 cost of living payment

A warning has been issued about a new scam ahead of the second £300 cost of living payment this Autumn.

The scam targets those who are to receive the payment in the coming weeks from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). No official payment date has been confirmed by the Government but it is believed that the money will begin to be distributed in October or November.

Since the cost of living payment scheme was announced last year, scammers have tried to take advantage of it. The latest scam is just one of many which have circulated over the last 18 months.

In this scam, the criminals are sending mass messages out to Brits posing as the Government. These messages tell people that their cost of living payment is ready to be claimed and that they need to apply to get it. The message then tells the reader to click on a link to be able to make their application.

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The text message reads: "Your cost of living payment is ready - review and apply." Once the link is clicked, the person being targeted is shown what looks like the GOV.UK site telling them to register to receive the £300 payment. It then asks for a full name, contact number and address along with an email address and also a debit or credit card details to receive the payment.

This website is actually a fake created by scammers to steal money and personal details. If you provide your details you could be at risk of criminals accessing your bank account to steal money or using your details to commit further scams.

The DWP has reiterated many times over the last year that those eligible for the cost of living payments will not need to apply or make a claim for