The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an urgent warning to households across the United Kingdom about a sophisticated new scam exploiting a government energy bill support scheme.
How the Scam Operates
Fraudsters are specifically targeting individuals who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount, a benefit which provides a £150 credit directly applied to electricity costs. Instead of the payment being automatic, scammers are contacting people by phone, text, and email, falsely claiming that recipients need to actively apply for the scheme.
These criminals attempt to convince their victims that the £150 payment will be made directly to them, creating a pretext to ask for sensitive bank details. The ultimate goal is to steal money, not to facilitate the legitimate discount.
Official Guidance and Reassurance
Both the DWP and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have been unequivocal in their advice. In a public statement on X, the DWP confirmed: “If you’re eligible, the £150 credit will be automatically applied to your electricity account. If you get a call asking you to apply for the discount, it’s a scam.”
The key message from authorities is that there is no need to apply for the Warm Home Discount. Any communication instructing you to do so or to provide your bank information to receive the payment is fraudulent. The public is advised not to engage with these messages and to delete them immediately.
Expanded Eligibility Means More Need for Caution
This warning comes at a critical time, as the scheme has been significantly expanded. An additional 2.7 million households are now eligible for the support, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over six million.
With millions more people set to receive the discount automatically, the potential pool of targets for scammers has grown considerably. All households, especially those newly eligible, are urged to be extra vigilant and to share this information with friends and family who might be at risk.
