DWP says there are seven rules anyone on Universal Credit must follow to keep their money

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has warned people claiming Universal Credit they must follow seven rules if they don't want to lose their money.

People who fail to follow the rules could lose a lot of cash if they're not careful.

The rules have been laid out following a warning from Action Fraud.

READ MORE:Some Brits can buy £5,000 extra State Pension for £800 from the DWP, expert says

Action Fraud warns that fresh scams have been circulating as it continues to receive reports of emails and texts sent by fraudsters purporting to be from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Householders are also receiving bogus calls offering council tax refunds and others promising to pay in energy bill rebates.

Some scams relate to Universal Credit, which saw a massive upsurge during the pandemic as claims doubled, BirminghamLive reports.

With the current cost of living crisis, there is also growing interest in benefits, with record numbers applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

And as a result, scammers are looking to take advantage of people's financial struggles.

According to MoneyHelper, some people have been approached in the street by smartly dressed people claiming to be from Jobcentre Plus. Others are being contacted online via social media groups, direct messages and adverts.

In other cases, people have also been messaged online by someone saying they have a friend who works at a Jobcentre, who will be able to process or approve the application on your behalf.

In most cases, scammers offer to apply for Universal Credit advance payments but will take some of the money - 40% or more - as a fee.

But there are ways to make sure your cash is protected from hackers and scammers, according to benefits advice