Know what legitimate cost of living support is available

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in February that all households with the council tax band of A-D will receive a rebate for £150. For the majority of households who pay their council tax by direct debit, this will have been paid automatically and should have been received by now. For those who don’t pay by direct debit, most councils collected bank details using secure, online portals. If you receive correspondence from the council, asking for your bank details, then you should hang up immediately, as councils will not do this. If you are still waiting for your rebate, then you should contact the council directly.

Sunak also announced that all households with an electricity supply will receive a £400 grant, which will be paid automatically in lump sums. There is no need to apply or contact your energy supplier to set this up.

““If you receive a message from your energy provider or even by ‘Ofgem’ inviting you to click on a link to apply or claim your rebate, then this is definitely a scam. Avoid clicking any links and forward the message to 7726,”” says Lachim.

Cost of living scams: what do they look like and how can you avoid them?