Criminal alert for Caithness – Beware of fake texts from fictional government office offering ‘winter subsidy payments’
Residents in Caithness have reported receiving scam texts from a fake government department offering winter subsidy payments.
The unsolicited text comes from the fictional “UK Government Living Allowance Office” which says it is issuing a “Last Time Reminder” on claiming payments. It was reported to Highland Council and Advice Direct Scotland which collates information on scams.
The text reads: “Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk [sic] government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.
“We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.”
It then has a link to a fake page which mimics a government website and gives guidance on claiming extra cost of living payments.
It ends by stating: “Thank you for your support to the UK Government.”
The fake government page asks for personal and payment data including name, email, phone number and home address in order to receive payment. This information can then be used by identity thieves who can sell your personal information and use it for various types of fraud, such as taking over your accounts or applying for credit in your name.
If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726. The free-of-charge ‘7726’ service enables your provider to investigate and take action if malicious content is found.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an urgent warning to people making any form of claim for a government benefit. The agency is worried that claimants are being scammed into completing application forms, providing personal financial information, through fraudulent emails and websites.
The DWP delivers benefits including the state pension and a range of working-age, disability and health payments to more than 20 million people throughout the UK.
Posting on social media the DWP reminded new and existing claimants it “does not publish any applications for download to your mobile devices or PCs” in an effort to reduce the number of people falling victim to scams.
Highland Council shared the fake text information with Highland Trading Standards and shared a link from Trading Standards Scotland which has advice in its latest bulletin: mailchi.mp/d25bde8844e2/trading-standards-scotland-bulletin-10-october
In Scotland, report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or online at www.consumeradvice.scot
You can forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and send links from websites which you think are trying to scam the public to the National Cyber Security Centre's scam website reporting service at www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website
If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
