DWP sends urgent warning to everyone after scams catch people off guard

The Department for Work and Pensions has put out a strong warning telling people to be on their guard after a rise in fake messages claiming to be from them. Taking to X (what we all used to know as Twitter), the government department told the public to “be careful” and urged everyone to think twice before clicking on any suspicious links or giving out personal info.

Their post read: “Be aware of scam text messages claiming to be from @DWPgovuk. Always be careful about links and never share personal or financial details. Only engage with trusted official sources. You can report suspicious messages to @actionfrauduk or search gov.uk.”

It’s a reminder that fraudsters are getting cleverer with how they target people. A dodgy message could end up costing you dearly if you hand over sensitive details like bank info. Scammers can drain your account in no time if they get access, reported Liverpool Echo.

Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has backed the warning. They’ve stressed the importance of keeping anti-virus software and firewalls up to date, especially since a lot of these scams kick off through phishing emails that can seem totally convincing.

They’ve also reminded people to stay cautious with emails that look like they’re from your bank. Just because something looks official doesn’t mean it is. Banks don’t send emails asking you to click a link and confirm your details – and if you get one, don’t fall for it. Always double-check with your bank using contact details you already know are legit.

Things can get even worse after someone has already been scammed. Action Fraud has flagged something called ‘fraud recovery fraud’ – which is basically a second scam targeting people who have already lost money. Fraudsters pretend to be police officers, lawyers or representatives from legit organisations and claim they can help get your money back. But, of course, they ask for a fee upfront and that’s when it becomes another con.

Their advice? Be wary of calls, letters or emails from anyone you don’t know or haven’t contacted yourself. If someone’s asking for money to help recover lost funds, that’s a huge red flag. End the conversation immediately. Ask how they even know you were scammed in the first place – fraud reports are confidential and shouldn’t be shared outside of proper law enforcement channels.

They explained that scammers often keep your details and try to strike again, pretending they’re on your side this time. They might say the person who scammed you has been caught or that your money is being held in court, and they just need one final payment to get it back to you. But if you pay, the demands will keep coming. And if you ask them to take their cut from the recovered money, they’ll always come up with an excuse why they can’t.

In some cases, they’ll even ask for your bank account details so they can supposedly return your money. But instead of helping, they’ll just use the info to empty your account. The bottom line is, if anything feels off, it probably is – and it’s always better to double-check before doing anything.

Don’t Miss These:

• Ted Cruz Warns Trump’s Drone Plan Could Derail Major Defense Bill
• New Medical Tests Cast Doubt on Wendy Williams’ Dementia Diagnosis
• How to Personalize Your Custom Suit for Any Occasion
• Kansas Mother Accused of Killing 6-Year-Old Adopted Daughter and Hiding Her Body in Backyard for 4 Years
• Trade or Power? The Supreme Court Tests the Limits of Trump’s Tariff Authority