Stay vigilant for winter fuel payment scams

Pensioners who have to repay their winter fuel payment have been warned that they’re being targeted by scammers.

Nearly two million people are expected to repay the money they received last winter because their annual income exceeds £35,000.

In most cases, this will be an automatic process, so there’s no need for those affected to contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

But not everyone will be aware of that, so scammers are contacting people claiming to be from HMRC asking for a payment.

“Criminals are great pretenders and often use fake letters, emails, calls and texts to impersonate HMRC and trick people into giving them money,” said Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer.

Do I need to pay back my winter fuel payment?

If you’re not sure if or how your payment will be recovered, use HMRC’s online checking tool at GOV.UK

“There’s no need to call us,” Ms Lloyd insisted.

HMRC also stressed that it will never contact pensioners by text or email to ask them to repay their winter fuel payment or ask for their bank details.

How will the money be recovered?

If you received a typical winter fuel payment of £200 and you’re a PAYE customer with an income of £35,000 or more, you’ll pay about £17 a month extra in tax during 2026-27.

How do I report a suspected scam?

If you receive a text and think it might be a scam, forward it to 60599.

And if you get a suspicious email, forward it to [email protected].

You can report a scam phone call via GOV.UK.

What should I do if I think I've been scammed?

If you’ve already responded to a scam message:

Stop all contact immediately 

Don’t reply further or click any more links.

Contact your bank straight away

Cancel any payments or direct debits you may have set up. 

You can also call 159 - a secure hotline that connects you directly to your bank to report suspected scams.

Report the scam

Contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit actionfraud.police.uk to report the scam online.