The public have been warned not to be tricked by fraudulent texts claiming to offer energy bill support from the government. Nottinghamshire Police have seen an increase in reports relating to scam text messages, similar to many police forces across England and Wales.
The texts tell the recipient that they are owed money or are eligible for an energy bill discount as part of the Energy Bill Support Scheme. The recipient is then encouraged to click on a link on the text message for further details or to apply for the support.
These text messages are fake and people should not click the link, which leads to a website designed to steal financial and personal information. These text messages are fake and people should not click the link, as it leads to a website designed to steal financial and personal information.
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Mark Lonsdale, Cyber Protect & Prevent Officer at Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Energy Bill Discount is £400 off energy bills for households in Great Britain from this October 2022. You do not need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.
“If you get a text message or email claiming to be from organisations such as Ofgem or GOV.UK seeking bank info to process payments, you can be sure it’s a scam.” If you come across this scam, report it to Action Fraud by forwarding the text to 7726 for free.
Full details of the Government’s Energy Bill Support Scheme are available on the gov.uk website.
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