Millions of households are being warned to watch out for scam texts and emails following the Government’s announcement of a new £100 energy payment. Consumer group Which? has urged people to be cautious after Chancellor John Healey confirmed that up to 20 million households could receive extra help with their energy bills this winter.
The payment was announced in Wednesday’s Budget and will go to eligible households living in properties in Council Tax bands A to D in England. But while the money will be welcome news for families struggling with rising bills, there are concerns that fraudsters could use the announcement to trick people into handing over their personal and banking details.
Which? has previously uncovered fake messages claiming that people are entitled to hundreds of pounds in energy support.
These messages direct recipients to fraudulent websites designed to look like official Government pages, where scammers attempt to steal their information. The consumer watchdog highlighted the risk again on October 28, following the latest Budget announcement. Under the new scheme, the £100 Household Energy Payment will be paid from January 2027.
Households that pay their Council Tax by direct debit will not need to apply, as the money will be paid directly into their bank accounts. However, those who do not pay by direct debit will be contacted by their local council and invited to apply.
The Government has made clear that nobody other than a person’s local council should contact them asking them to claim the payment.
This means households should be particularly suspicious of unexpected texts or emails containing links to claim the £100.
Anyone unsure whether a message is genuine should contact their council directly rather than using the details provided in the message.
The payment will be available to eligible households in England, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive separate funding to provide similar support. Which? advises people not to click on suspicious links or provide personal information through unexpected messages.
People can also report fraudulent websites to the National Cyber Security Centre.
