Watch out for scams about the new £100 Household Energy Payment
Fraudsters are already sending fake texts and emails about the Budget's £100 energy payment, so here is how the real scheme works and how to keep your bank details safe.
Every time the government announces money for households, scammers move quickly. This week's Autumn Budget was no exception. Within days of the new £100 Household Energy Payment being announced, consumer group Which? and local fraud-prevention groups were warning about fake messages using it as bait. If your phone or inbox has pinged with something about "claiming your energy payment", please read this before you tap anything.
What happened
On 28 October 2026 the government confirmed a one-off £100 Household Energy Payment to help with winter bills. The same day, Which? flagged scam emails and texts telling people they are owed money for energy costs. The links in these messages lead to phishing websites made to look like the official GOV.UK site, where you are asked for personal and bank details.
A community fraud alert issued on 30 October describes the same pattern. The messages typically say you must "apply" or "update your details" before a deadline, which is designed to rush you into acting without thinking. Some people are also getting phone calls from fraudsters claiming to be from an official agency.
How the real payment works
Knowing how the genuine scheme works is the best way to spot a fake. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero:
- The payment is for households in England living in a council tax band A to D property as their main home. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving funding to decide their own support.
- Payments are due to start in January 2027, not now.
- It is handled by your local council, not your energy supplier and not a third-party "claims" website.
- If you pay council tax by direct debit, you do not need to do anything. The money goes straight into your bank account.
- If you do not pay by direct debit, your council will contact you and invite you to apply.
The government's own advice is clear: nobody other than your council should get in touch asking you to claim. So any text, email or call from anyone else about this payment should be treated as a scam.
Who it affects
Anyone with a mobile phone or email address could receive these messages, because scammers send them out in huge numbers. They work best on people who are expecting the payment, which is millions of households in England, including many of our customers here in Beckenham and across Bromley. Older relatives and anyone who is worried about bills are especially likely to be targeted, so it is worth having a quick chat with family members too.
What to do now
- Do not click links in any message about the energy payment, even if it looks official and uses the GOV.UK logo.
- Never enter card or bank details to "receive" money. Genuine payments do not need your card number, security code or online banking login.
- Check your council tax band yourself by typing gov.uk into your browser and searching for the council tax band checker, or by looking at your latest bill.
- If in doubt, contact your council directly using the phone number or website on your council tax bill, never the details given in the message.
- Report scam texts by forwarding them free to 7726, and scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Then delete them.
- If you have already entered bank details, call your bank straight away. If you do not have its number to hand, dial 159 to be put through safely. You can also report fraud to Report Fraud, the national service that replaced Action Fraud, at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.
- Change any password you typed into a suspicious site, and turn on two-step verification for your email and banking where offered.
Scams like this often come in waves alongside other popular lures. In the past few weeks Which? has also warned about fake PayPal emails claiming an unauthorised iPhone purchase and giving a "customer service" number to ring. The same rule applies: if a message pushes you to act fast, stop and check through a route you trust.
When to get help
If you clicked a link or opened an attachment and are worried your computer or laptop may have been affected, Home Computer Repairs can help. We can check your machine for malware, secure your email and accounts, and make sure your security software is set up properly. Our remote computer support service means we can often do this over the internet without you leaving home, or we can visit you through our home computer repair service within 10 miles of Beckenham. Call our friendly local team on 020 8658 4366 for advice.
Sources: GOV.UK (DESNZ), Which? scam alerts, Which? Budget energy guide, FraudWatch, Report Fraud