Warning over cost of living scams

People have been urged to beware falling victim to a scam as cost of living support payments of £324 start arriving in their bank accounts.

Around 689,000 households in Scotland will automatically receive the money, which is part of a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) package for those on means-tested benefits.

The funds are paid directly into recipients’ bank accounts.

There is no need for people to apply or do anything, meaning Scots should not respond to bogus texts or emails asking them to fill out application forms, as these will be scams.

Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national consumer advice. scot website, urged people to report any suspected scams to its scamwatch service.

This is important because the organisation is then able to share the information with the authorities.

Conor Forbes, Advice Direct Scotland director of policy, cautioned people to be on guard for scammers.

“Hundreds of thousands of Scots households will start receiving the cost of living support payment, and it’s vital to remember that this will happen automatically,” said Forbes. “There is no application form to fill out for the money.

“Sadly, we know that scammers have repeatedly tried to capitalise on the cost of living crisis, so people should be alert to emails and texts asking for personal information in relation to the payments – the DWP will not do this.

“Anyone who is caught out by a scam, or spots a suspected scam, should report it by using our free scamwatch tool at consumer advice. scot .”