Unpaid carers set to bank a £500 benefit for their essential role they played during the pandemic have been warned to watch out for a nasty scam doing the rounds.
More than 57,000 unpaid carers in Wales will receive the one off payment from the Welsh Government in May. However, a warning has been issued that fraudsters are posing as Welsh Government workers have been asking for people's bank details - claiming they account numbers and sort codes to pay carers the money. However, officials stress that the bonus can only be claimed by registering with your local council.
An unpaid carer is someone who cares for a partner, relative, or friend who has an illness or disability. Carer's Allowance is paid to people caring for at least 35 hours a week who care for someone receiving certain benefits and who earn no more than £128 a week.
Read more: Cadbury issues Easter egg scam warning to customers
The Welsh Government said the payment will benefit thousands of the most vulnerable unpaid carers in Wales who frequently care for the longest and are on the lowest incomes.
A Welsh Goverment statement on social media said: " We're aware of scammers asking people to share their bank details to receive our £500 payment for unpaid carers.
"The payment can only be claimed by registering with your council - which will open in May. Please never share your bank details."
What to do if you do find yourself a victim of a scam?
Contact your bank
If you have been scammed and paid money over, you should get in contact with your bank as soon as possible.
Spread the alert
If you have any other financial products, like investments or accounts, alert the providers to what has happened. You can ask for some form of protection to be applied to your accounts, like a password or a warning marker that means you will be contacted if anyone attempts to transfer funds out of your accounts or if any details are asked to be amended.
Check for security breaches
If the scam has, or you suspect it might have, resulted in your personal details such as a password being stolen, it’s important to take quick action.
Seek emotional support
If a scam has made you feel anxious, fearful or guilty, there is help at hand – you can contact the Samaritans, Victim Support or anti-scam charity Think Jessica.
For more information on what to do straight away once you've been scammed, read here.
