cammers are benefiting from the cost-of-living disaster by sending fraudulent textual content messages claiming to assist recipients with their vitality payments.
New knowledge from the Workplace of Nationwide Statistics (ONS) revealed that there was a 25 per cent rise in fraud since earlier than the pandemic.
Marijus Briedis, chief know-how officer at NordVPN, stated: “Covid-19 and the cost-of-living disaster have been honeypots for fraudsters, giving rise to more and more cynical ploys to separate victims from their cash.”
One in every of these scams is the pretend energy-support scheme textual content, which various folks have reported receiving in current days.
Discover out under what the rip-off textual content appears to be like like and how one can keep away from getting caught out.
What’s the energy-support scheme rip-off textual content?
The rip-off textual content claiming to supply assist amid the cost-of-living disaster comes from “UK Assist”.
The message reads: “GOVUK: You’re eligible for a reduced vitality invoice below the Power Invoice Assist Scheme. You may apply right here.”
The textual content features a hyperlink that features “gov”, because the scammers try and persuade recipients that the hyperlink results in a authorities web site.
Nonetheless, this hyperlink results in a scammers web site the place they could attempt to steal victims’ private info and banking particulars.
Any textual content messages alongside these strains is a rip-off, because the funds for the vitality payments assist scheme shall be paid routinely.
No one wants to use for the £400 low cost, so be cautious of any textual content messages or e-mail asking you to use and enter your particulars.
What to do in the event you obtain the energy-support scheme rip-off textual content?
Should you obtain the pretend energy-bills textual content, don’t click on on the hyperlink or enter any private info.
Report the rip-off to Motion Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or on the Motion Fraud web site.
Alternatively, you may ahead the textual content to 7726 or ship a screenshot of the message to report@phising.gov.uk.
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