HMRC has issued a warning to all two million state pensioners who are repaying Winter Fuel Payments to be vigilant against scams. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Winter Fuel Allowances must be repaid if recipients earn more than £35,000.
Scam Alert from HMRC
HMRC states that the clawback scheme provides a perfect opportunity for fraudsters. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: "Criminals are great pretenders and often use fake letters, emails, calls and texts to impersonate HMRC and trick people into giving them money."
She added: "I’d encourage anyone who’s unsure to use our online tool at GOV.UK to check whether and how their payment will be recovered – there’s no need to call us."
Money Saving Expert Advice
Money Saving Expert (MSE), founded by Martin Lewis, expressed concern that scammers could replicate HMRC communications. MSE advised: "Genuine HMRC letters will make it clear that NO action is required. The notice will simply explain that your tax code will be changed for the upcoming tax year, due to you needing to repay the Winter Fuel Payment you have received."
MSE further noted that genuine HMRC texts and emails will not include any links. Instead, they prompt recipients to navigate to Gov.uk independently to check their new tax code in their personal tax account. If a letter, text, or email claiming to be from HMRC urges you to provide details or make a payment, it is likely a scam. In case of doubt, do not respond directly; contact HMRC using its official details listed on Gov.uk.
How to Report Suspicious Messages
MSE recommends forwarding suspicious texts to 60599 and suspicious emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. "If you're worried you might be talking to a scammer, end all communication straight away," MSE said.
