THE Department for Work and Pensions has issued an urgent warning over a Universal Credit scam that could see your cash and personal details stolen.
The Government department issued the stark message in a recent Twitter post.
The post explained fraudsters are posing as the DWP asking claimants for proof of ID by passport.
The DWP may genuinely ask for these same details, however it will always add a message to your Universal Credit journal as well.
So if you do receive a message asking for proof of ID but there's no message on your journal, it's a scam.
The Twitter post read: "Be fraud aware and protect your personal details at all times.
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"Your information could be used by criminals to commit benefit and other fraud."
Scammers can use your personal details to go on and claim benefits instead of you.
They might also order goods or products under your name and open bank accounts.
Crucially, victims of identity theft can see their credit rating negatively impacted, making it harder to be approved for personal loans, credit cards or mortgages.
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How to spot a scam
Scammers are always looking for new ways to con people out of their money but you can try to stop it from happening first.
One major red flag is if you receive a message from someone you've not been contacted by before or it's someone you don't know.
It might be trying to provoke you into a rushed decision by creating a sense of urgency, or contain grammatical errors.
You can report these types of scam messages through different means.
If it's an email, you need to report it to [email protected].
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will then analyse the email to check if it is indeed a scam.
If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726 for free.
What to do if you've been scammed
If you have already been scammed, you can either contact your local Trading Standards office or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
You can try calling your local Citizens Advice branch who should be able to help as well.
There are also steps you can take yourself to try and stop money being stolen if you've been scammed.
You should change any passwords on the hacked device and also your bank and credit card accounts.
If you think the fraudster has gained access to your bank or other financial details, tell the company or bank those details relate to.
If you've been left out of pocket by a scammer, you might be in line for a refund.
If your bank refuses to offer a refund, you can try going to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
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It is an independent body that settles disputes between consumers and financial businesses and is free to use.
It may be able to get your money back for you, although there are no guarantees.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
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