People are being warned to be cautious when receiving text messages, phone calls, letters or emails offering grants or help meeting fuel costs.
Exeter City Council said some of the messages currently circulating could be money-making scams.
The Council believe the target audience for the scams may be those who have had their Winter Fuel Payments withdrawn this year.
At the moment there is a lot of genuine and official communications going around encouraging low-income pensioners to claim Pension Credit, which would restore entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment.
Lots of Councils including Exeter City Council are currently contacting low-income pensioners about Household Support Fund to help plug the gap.
Some Councils, including Exeter City Council, are sending awards directly so aren’t asking customers for any financial information. Others will be inviting them to make a claim.
At the beginning of October, the City Council wrote to the pensioners (250 households) that are most likely to be eligible for Pension Credit and are following that up with phonecalls, emails or further individual letters to encourage them to claim and offer help making the application.
This week the City Council has written to the 950 Council Tax Support customers that it believes have lost the Winter Fuel Payment with a £200 voucher to be cashed at Post Office.
The Council will be following this up with a further letter in the next couple of weeks to remind them to cash the voucher and offering signposting to other help they could be entitled to. Before the vouchers expire, the Council will follow up again with of those that are outstanding to see if they need extra help. This could include phone calls and emails.
Customers who are concerned about whether a letter, phone call or email from the City Council is genuine can check the City Council website, or get in contact through the ECC benefits line 01392 265440.
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