Scam text impersonates government Cost of Living Payments with bogus 'annual living allowance'

Which? reported on 18 September 2024 that scammers are using a text message and a copycat government website to try to steal personal information by imitating the Cost of Living Payments scheme¹.

The text refers to an "annual allowance", which is not an official government scheme, and claims the recipient's 2023-2024 allowance has not been received¹. It says there is a window of "three working days" to submit an application "as soon as possible"¹. The link leads to a site using gov.uk logos, fonts and branding, alongside genuine links to the official gov.uk website, and asks for a name, phone number, email address and home address to register for a "£900 Cost of Living payment", as well as financial information¹. Which? entered fake details and was taken on to a payment page¹. It said the site was created the week before publication, and that asking for a "state" and "zip code" is a further sign of a scam because those terms are not typically used in the UK¹.

The genuine Cost of Living Payments were offered to some people who were already entitled to certain benefits or tax credits on particular dates between 2022 and 2024, and no application is needed: eligible people are paid automatically¹. Payments of £299, £300, £301, £324 and £326 were made to people receiving:

The government has previously warned that messages asking people to apply or to contact someone about payments could be scams¹. Scam websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre, and texts forwarded to 7726; scams can also be reported to Action Fraud, or to the police on 101 in Scotland¹.

Why it matters for households

The scam targets people who may be waiting for, or believe they are owed, cost of living support, and it asks for both identity details and financial information¹. Anyone who has clicked a link and shared personal or financial information is advised to contact their bank immediately using the number on the back of their card, and to be cautious about further messages asking them to move money or make payments, as scammers may make contact again¹. The official Cost of Living Payments have already been paid automatically to eligible recipients for the 2022 to 2024 period, so no application process exists for them¹. More generally, fake websites and online shopping scams are covered in the site's scams and fraud guidance.

What happens next

No further action by government or regulators has been reported. Which? published the warning on 18 September 2024¹.