Rutland County Councillor Raymond Payne has spoken out warning residents of the Energy Bill Support Scheme scam that is being sent out via text and email nationwide. The email or text message asks recipients to send their bank details to ensure that they receive the £400 energy bill assistance one-off payment.

This payment will be made automatically, no bank details are needed, and you do not need to apply, so if you receive one of these texts or emails, be aware that it is a scam.

The Energy Bill Discount entitles recipients to £400 off energy bills for households in Great Britain from October 2022. Again, you do not need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.

Cllr Raymond Payne recounted his own experience of the scam: "I received an e-mail today allegedly from Ofgem advising me that I needed to contact the e-mail address provided in order to claim my energy discount on my energy bills. THIS IS A SCAM! Customers DO NOT have to contact anybody to get their discount, those eligible for a discount will receive it automatically.

Action Fraud has received 139 crime reports relating to fake text messages purporting to be from the UK government. The texts state that the recipient is "owed" or "eligible" for an energy bill discount as part of the Energy Bill Support Scheme. The links in the emails lead to genuine-looking websites that are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

SCAM WARNING@actionfrauduk has received 139 reports about scam text messages relating to the Energy Bills Support Scheme.You DO NOT need to apply for the scheme, or provide any bank details.Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (it's free). #CyberProtect pic.twitter.com/ze5q0xAto5

— Cyber Protect (@CyberProtectUK) September 30, 2022

Spotted a suspicious text message? Forward it to 7726 (it's free of charge). If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender, if it's found to be malicious.

Cllr Payne concluded: "I would hate for these fraudsters to hoodwink honest people out of what is rightfully theirs."

For more information on how to stay secure online, please visit cyberaware.gov.

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