Wales residents warned over rise in energy scam calls

Scam calls about fake energy bill discounts are on the rise in Wales, as experts remind people what to look out for.

Transcript

00:00People in Wales are being urged to stay cautious as scam calls and texts remain common.

00:06Research indicates nearly one in four Welsh people report receiving scam messages every day,

00:11and just over one in three say it happens weekly.

00:13Criminals often impersonate the warm home discounts,

00:16a government scheme that gives eligible households £150 off electricity bills.

00:22The real discount is applied by suppliers to the bill, is not paid to you in cash,

00:26and does not require anyone to respond to a text or share bank details.

00:31People can check official guidance on the government's website and with their energy supplier,

00:36and report suspicious emails to report at phishing.gov.uk.

00:40Suspicious texts can be forwarded to 7726, which helps phone providers to block the sender.

00:46If money or personal details have been given, contact the bank straight away,

00:50and make a report to Action Fraud for further advice.

00:53Taking a moment to check the source of any message could be the difference between saving money and losing it.