Sophisticated scammers are exploiting the cost of living crisis by sending messages to people who are worried about soaring energy bills.
UK Finance, the banking trade body, urged people to be vigilant after noticing a rise in the number of "smishing," or SMS phishing, scams that aim to impersonate major energy companies.
Recipients are told that their energy supply has been switched to another provider and that they should set up a new direct debit.
