A new type of scam has been making the rounds throughout the Thames Valley using the cost-of-living crisis to target households.

Fake messages and email from the energy regulator, Ofgem have been circulating in the hopes of gaining personal and bank details.

The message invites you to apply for your £400 rebate and instructs you to follow a link to a fake Ofgem website. This will then contain a prompt to set up a direct debit and provide personal details in order to receive the rebate, which will not be the case.

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Thames Valley Police said: “For most people the discount will be applied to your energy bill automatically – there's absolutely no need to apply.
 
“But be aware that if you have an older prepayment meter you will get energy bill discount vouchers sent you in the first week of each month from October, via SMS text, email or post, that you will then need to redeem at your usual top-up point.
 
“In all cases, no household should be asked for bank details at any point.