Pensioners are being urged to stay alert after there has been a sharp rise in people receiving scam text messages impersonating the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and threatening the loss of the winter fuel payment.
One such message, seen by The i Paper, falsely claims recipients must apply for the 2024/25 winter heating allowance via a suspicious link or risk losing the £300 payment.
It instructs people to act before 11 August 2025 and uses an official-sounding tone to pressurise recipients into giving up personal information. But the link included – “gov.uk-notificationaw.cfd” – is a major red flag.
While it may appear legitimate at first glance, it uses a fraudulent domain ending in “.cfd” rather than the Government’s secure “.gov.uk” and references the previous years application, rather than the upcoming one – a sign it is fraudulent.
Another clue the text is fraudulent is the fact it refers to the Winter Heating Allowance, which is known as the Winter Fuel Payment.
Experts say if you receive this message, delete it immediately and report itExperts say the scam is part of a broader surge in fraudulent activity targeting vulnerable people, particularly older adults on low incomes.
Bryn Thompson, director at scam-reporting platform Phonely, said: “We have seen a significant increase in reports of similar messages, with our records indicating a total of 280 from this year from 208 different numbers.
“The surge in fraudulent activity is particularly alarming, with 74 per cent of reports being made in the last 2 months.”
These figures may only scratch the surface. According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), just 14 per cent of scams are ever officially reported, suggesting many more people may have received similar texts but remained silent.
Last year, there were many scam texts sent to people, similarly asking for private details to sign up to the winter fuel payment.
Mr Thompson said people should be highly suspicious of messages claiming to be from the DWP if they come from unfamiliar numbers or contain unofficial links.
He added: “We urge everyone to remain vigilant. Official bodies like the DWP will not contact you from a foreign-looking number or ask you to click a link that isn’t a secure .gov.uk address.
“The fraudulent .cfd link here is a clear red flag. If you receive a message like this, do not click the link. Delete it immediately and report it.”
Understanding the winter fuel payment
The winter fuel payment is a one-off, tax-free payment made to households with someone over state pension age to help with heating costs.
For the 2025/26 winter season, the payment will be extended to all pensioners in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland who were born before 22 September 1959 and lived in these countries during the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025.
Eligible individuals will receive £200 if they are under 80 years old or £300 if they are 80 years old or over.
However, if an individual’s annual income exceeds £35,000, they will be required to repay the payment through their tax code or self-assessment tax return.
This policy change aims to ensure that the payment reaches those who need it most while reducing unnecessary expenditure.
Residents of Scotland are not eligible for the winter fuel payment. Instead, they will receive the winter heating payment, which is a similar scheme.
The scam plays on fears and financial insecurity at a time when many older people are already anxious about affording to heat their homes this winter.
Morgan Vine, director of policy and influencing at Independent Age, said fraudsters are exploiting the genuine concerns of pensioners.
She said: “It is shameful that scammers are using the winter fuel payment as a means of targeting older people living on a low income.
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“The winter fuel payment is there to protect older people facing financial hardship during the colder months and it will be paid automatically to anyone aged 66 and over.
“For anyone with an annual income over £35,000 HMRC will take back the payment. So there is no need for anyone to provide the UK Government with any additional information.”
Ms Vine added that the charity’s helpline has already started receiving calls from people who are confused and alarmed by the messages.
She continued: “Many will be worrying about the upcoming winter and whether they can afford to put the heating on.
“This scam could make them believe that they have to take action to ensure they receive this much-needed entitlement. The key message is, no action is needed, you will receive the payment if you are eligible.”
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said he has received the message himself, as have a lot of his members.
He said: “Since the U-turn there have been no announcements over how and when winter fuel payments will be paid this winter, and there is confusion over what will happen with people with an income over £35,000.
“There was a promise over an opt out scheme for higher income pensioners, but we have heard nothing since.
“The DWP needs to get its collective fingers out and tell older people the detailed arrangements for paying the winter fuel allowance this year.”
The DWP have been approached for comment.
How to protect yourself
If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from the DWP or HMRC, do not click on any links or provide any personal information.
Instead:
Delete the message immediately Report it to the relevant authorities Inform friends, family, or neighbours who may be at riskTo report a suspicious text, forward it to 7726 – a free service run by mobile networks) or visit the National Cyber Security Centre at www.ncsc.gov.uk
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