HMRC Receives 15,000+ Winter Fuel Payment Scam Reports UK

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reported a surge in scams related to Winter Fuel Payments, with over 15,000 reports of fraudulent activity in June. Scammers have been targeting vulnerable pensioners using texts and phishing websites, prompting HMRC to shut down more than 4,600 fake sites linked to these payments. The government recently revised the eligibility criteria, extending payments to single pensioners earning less than £35,000 or households over the state pension age earning less than £70,000, with payments issued automatically without the need for claims. HMRC emphasizes that it will never send texts requesting personal information or urgent money transfers regarding Winter Fuel Payments and urges the public to report suspicious communications. North Wales Police and local officials have also warned residents to be vigilant against these scams, highlighting that any texts about the payment are fraudulent. Both HMRC and law enforcement recommend forwarding suspicious texts to designated numbers and using official websites to report scams to help protect vulnerable individuals.