Reports are coming through of people being called or messaged to apply for money from the Household Support Fund, or to click on links for an unexpected ‘living allowance’ payment. These are scams.
If you receive a phone call, text message or email from an unknown person:
- Always be suspicious
- Never click on a link
- Never give out personal details, especially anything to do with your bank account
- Don't call them back on a phone number that they give you
Scammers want to steal your money, your identity, or both. Do not give them the details they ask for.
If you are asked to apply for a loan, remember, Dudley Council does not offer Household Support Fund loans and would never contact you to ask you to apply for one.
If you think you may have been a victim of a scam, you can report this to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
If you have shared your bank details in error, notify your bank as soon as possible.
For details of the legitimate Household Support Fund and other sources of cost of living support for Dudley residents, go to our cost of living web pages.
