People across Kent have begun receiving scam texts and emails related to the government’s £400 energy rebate.
The money will be paid automatically in to every qualifying household starting next month.
But these latest scams invite people to apply for the rebate using a link. But it’s an attempt to elicit personal details from the victim.
Rhiannon Cox from the North Loose Residents Association in Maidstone warned her members to be on the lookout after receiving a scam message herself.
She said: “This scam is being used by callous crooks to try and trick people into handing over their personal and financial information by pretending to be from the government.
“The dangerous scam tells people they need to apply for the £400 energy rebate, which is set to start being deducted from millions of bills across the country from next month.
“The £400 energy rebate discount will be made automatically – nobody needs to apply for it.
“The government guidance on the real energy rebate page warns that if you get a message asking for your bank details, it could be a scam – if you get the text, do not click on the link as it takes you to a clone of the Energy Bills Support Scheme page on GOV.UK, with the addition of a ‘Start now’ button, which has been created by the cybercriminals.”
Zoe Mor and Ian Tatt, both from Shepway, have also received the scam texts as has Ian Tucker from Loose, Linda Gilmore from south Wigmore and Rachel Wainwright from Maidstone…
