Warning: Scam targets Motability scheme customers

Customers of the Motability scheme are being targeted by scammers attempting to steal personal and financial details over the phone.

If you’re part of the Motability scheme, you should stay alert, as Motability will never call to ask for bank information or payments.

What is the Motability scheme?

The Motability scheme helps people with disabilities lease a new car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair.

Since it was launched in 1978, it has supported millions of disabled people and their families with accessible and affordable mobility solutions.

Who can join the scheme?

You may qualify if you receive one of the following allowances:

• enhanced rate mobility part of personal independence payment (PIP)
• higher rate mobility part of disability living allowance (DLA)
• higher rate mobility part of Scottish adult DLA
• enhanced rate mobility part of adult disability payment (Scotland)
• higher rate mobility part of child disability payment (Scotland)
• war pensioners’ mobility supplement (WPMS)
• armed forces independence payment (AFIP)

Carers and parents can also apply on behalf of the disabled person, including for children aged 3+ or non-drivers.

What’s the Motability scam?

Scammers call pretending to be from the Motability scheme, asking for:

• bank details
• payment for refunds or services

This is a scam. Motability will never call you for this kind of information.

However, your vehicle dealer may call to request payment for your Advance Payment or optional extras.

To stay safe, you should:

• hang up and call your dealer back directly using a trusted number
• contact the Motability scheme on 0300 456 4566

How to stay safe from scams

• don’t answer calls or texts from unknown numbers
• never give out sensitive details like passwords or banking information
• hang up if you’re being pressured or rushed
• use strong, unique passwords for different accounts
• never allow remote access to your device
• avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts or emails
• be wary of offers that seem too good to be true, as they usually are

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

Report it immediately to:

• Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre: you can call them on 0300 123 2040
• Suspicious emails: forward to [email protected]
• Online scam adverts: report to the Advertising Standards Authority and the platform the scam was posted on, like Facebook, X or Instagram

Remember, reporting helps protect others and may support investigations.