HMRC Issues Urgent Scam Warning to Two Million UK Pensioners
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has sent an urgent alert to nearly two million people across the United Kingdom, specifically targeting pensioners, as the recovery process for Winter Fuel Payments begins this month. The tax authority issued the warning on Tuesday morning, emphasising the heightened risk of scams during this period.
Massive Repayment Scheme Underway
HMRC revealed that approximately two million individuals are expected to repay their Winter Fuel Payment from 2025 because their annual income exceeded the £35,000 threshold. For the majority of affected pensioners, this will be an automatic procedure, requiring no direct contact with HMRC.
The repayment will typically be recouped through an adjustment to their PAYE tax code starting in April 2026. For those earning above £35,000, this translates to around £17 per month in additional tax during the 2026 to 2027 tax year to recover the standard £200 payment.
Sophisticated Scam Threat Emerges
HMRC reported receiving over 25,000 Winter Fuel Payment scam referrals in the past twelve months alone. Fraudsters are now exploiting the recovery process as bait, using deceptive texts, emails, and phone calls to target vulnerable pensioners.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's chief customer officer, stated: "Criminals are great pretenders and often use fake letters, emails, calls and texts to impersonate HMRC and trick people into giving them money. I'd encourage anyone who's unsure to use our online tool at GOV.UK to check whether and how their payment will be recovered – there's no need to call us."
Recovery Procedures Across the UK
This repayment scheme applies throughout the United Kingdom, including Scotland, where the payment is known as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, and Northern Ireland, where payments were issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. In all cases, HMRC manages the recovery process.
For Self Assessment filers who submit online, the payment should be automatically included in their 2025 to 2026 tax return, which is due by January 31, 2027. Customers are advised to verify and add it manually if it does not appear. Paper filers must include it on their tax return, due by October 31, 2026.
How to Protect Yourself from Fraud
HMRC confirmed it would never contact individuals via text or email asking them to repay their Winter Fuel Payment or to provide bank details. The tax authority has provided clear guidance for reporting suspicious communications:
- To flag a suspicious text purporting to be from HMRC, forward it to 60599.
- To report a suspicious email, forward it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
- To report a fraudulent phone call, visit GOV.UK.
If funds have been stolen, individuals should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud. In Scotland, people should contact police on 101.
Members of the public can use HMRC's online checking tool at GOV.UK to determine whether their payment will be reclaimed and in what manner, providing a secure way to verify legitimate communications.
