Pocket money... beware of fraudsters posing as Ofgem
⬤ Rising inflation is causing families to open the Bank of Mum and Dad early, says The Sunday Times. A survey by Ssafa, the armed forces charity, found that 10% of parents aged over 50 who had adult children now intend to give away money earlier than previously planned. Of the 2,000 people surveyed, 15% said they would pass on some money to their children during the cost of living crisis. The amount worked out at an average of 9% of their estate.
⬤ “One in five tax refunds has been delayed as the tax authority attempts to crack down on a spate of fraudulent claims,” says The Daily Telegraph. HMRC reports that 20% of tax rebate requests are taking longer than the 15-day target for payment, due to increased checks designed to thwart a wave of selfassessment fraud attempts.
In March, HMRC warned that criminal gangs were obtaining the personal details of taxpayers in order to submit false claims; more than £1bn of fraudulent claims were stopped last year. But the extra checks are holding up genuine claims, with accountants reporting that some clients are waiting up to six months to get overpaid taxes back.
⬤ Fraudsters are sending out emails with the logo of the energy regulator Ofgem, claiming to offer an “energy bill rebate scheme” worth up to £450, says Faye Lipson at Which. Those who click the link are directed to a fake online portal to fill in personal and payment details to get the “refund”. But if you provide your details, you will almost certainly find your card fraudulently debited and will also be at risk of having your identity and online accounts stolen. This fake email comes from info@rebate-ogem.com and directs you to rebateofgem.com, but you should be wary of all such emails.
That’s because scammers have pounced on the government’s £150 energy rebate scheme to pose as everyone from your local council to the government. If you are due a £150 rebate it will be paid directly into your account if you pay your council tax by direct debit. Otherwise, you’ll receive a letter from your local authority explaining how you can claim.