Ross-shire residents urged to be alert to scams as £324 DWP payment arrives in bank accounts today

Ross-shire residents are urged to look out for scams as cost-of-living support payments of £324 start arriving in bank accounts.

Around 689,000 households in Scotland will automatically receive the money, which is part of a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) package for those on means-tested benefits.

The payments are made directly into recipients’ bank accounts, with no need to apply or do anything, meaning you should not respond to scam texts or emails asking you to fill out application forms.

Advice Direct Scotland (ADS), which runs the national consumeradvice.scot service, urged people to report any suspected scams to its scamwatch service, with the organisation able to then share this information with the authorities.

Conor Forbes, director of policy with ADS, said: “Hundreds of thousands of Scots households will start receiving the cost-of-living support payment, and it’s vital to remember that this will happen automatically. There is no application form to fill out for the money.

"Sadly, we know that scammers have repeatedly tried to capitalise on the cost-of-living crisis, so people should be alert to emails and texts asking for personal information in relation to the payments – the DWP will not do this."

Report suspected scams and suspicious activity here: www.consumeradvice.scot

ADS is a charity which also runs the national consumer service consumeradvice.scot. Consumers can seek help in a number of different ways: freephone 0808 164 6000; and online, web chat and email at www.consumeradvice.scot