Winter Fuel Payments - they are automatic #NoNeedToApply

Good afternoon,

We are receiving an increasingly high number of reports from residents who have been contacted by someone purporting to be gathering information to enable them to receive a Winter Fuel Payment.  There is no need for you to provide any information - the payment is automatic - the DWP know if you are eligible or not based on their records, for more information please read: https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment 

If you would like to know more about these particular scams please read: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdr57nn6j3xo   and/or watch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/videos/cq53gdd8d66o 

If you, or someone you know has provided personal information and now realise it is a scam - please remain vigilant about any post, calls, texts, messages - Stop! Think Fraud.

If you, or someone you know has provided financial information and now realise it is a scam - please contact your bank by phoning 159

If you, or someone you know receives texts please forward them to 7726, suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk Hopefully you are all screening your calls so won't be answering from unknown/unexpected numbers - but if you do receive a suspicious call you can forward the number, again, to 7726.

If this isn't relevant to you, please share it with someone who might be interested.

If you've been affected by a crime please contact Victim Care Hub for free, confidential support: Home - Hampshire Victim Care Hub (hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk) or phone 0808 178 1641

If you would like to report a crime anonymously please contact: Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) or phone 0800 555 111

Hampshire Alerts is not a crime reporting portal – please do not report crime here.

If you realise you’ve been scammed and wish to report a fraud that has already happened, please report it to Action Fraud either phone 0300 123 2040 or online at: Action Fraud

If a crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. 

Otherwise, report online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: Report a crime | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

Thank you – Fraud Safeguarding Team