I received this text yesterday, which is actually fake but looks very convincing:
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reminds you:
Due to budget constraints, the 2025 heating allowance will be prioritised for accounts that have completed the application process and passed verification. Our system shows that you have not yet submitted a complete and valid application.
Please ensure you complete the entire application process by 5 August 2025 to retain eligibility for the maximum £300 subsidy. Applications not completed by the deadline will be deemed invalid and may be cancelled or delayed. Application link: https://gov.uk-winterugh.party/uk
(Please reply with ‘Y’, then exit the message and reopen it to activate the link, or copy the link to the Safari browser and open it.)
If you receive this text, don’t click on the link – it’s fake.
Barbara O’Keefe
To help villagers identify whether messages like this, with clickable links, are fake or not, I have created a webpage where you can copy and paste the link into a box, click ‘Analyse’ and it will tell you if it’s genuine. Take care not to click directly on the link, as you may end up on a fake website.
Here is the link to my Domain Analysing webpage: https://billhodgson.com/url-analyser/
Bill Hodgson
Wootton Courtenay 