BENEFITS SCAMS

Universal Credit and Benefits Scams UK — What to Watch For

Updated July 2026 · 5 min read · By Silent Erase | ICO Registered C1971457

Fraudsters impersonating the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) target both current benefits claimants and people who have never claimed at all, using fake texts, emails and calls about Universal Credit, eligibility, or urgent account "verification".

Know this:
The DWP will never ask for your bank card PIN, ask you to move money to a "safe account", or demand payment to release a benefit payment.

Common Versions of This Scam

Fake texts claiming your Universal Credit application has an "issue" and asking you to click a link to verify your bank details.

Calls claiming you're owed a backdated payment, but must pay an admin fee to receive it.

Fake job or grant schemes claiming affiliation with the DWP, harvesting personal and financial details under the guise of an application.

How to Verify Anything DWP-Related

Always log into your genuine Universal Credit account directly via gov.uk, never via a link in a text or email.

The DWP will only ever contact you about a change to your claim through your online journal, a letter, or a call from a number you can verify.

Red Flags to Watch For

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Request for a fee to "release" a payment — the DWP never charges to pay benefits owed
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Link asking you to "verify" bank details — always go directly to gov.uk instead
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Urgent threats about losing your claim — designed to stop you checking independently

What To Do If This Has Happened To You

Report suspicious DWP-related messages by forwarding phishing texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. If you've shared bank details, contact your bank immediately.

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