Watford residents have been targeted by “shameful” scammers pretending to offer energy support funding.

Watford Borough Council have warned potential victims not to fall prey to it as the Energy Bill Relief Scheme will be applied automatically to their energy bills.

Hertfordshire Constabulary also issued advice as people reported receiving texts with false links to claim the money.

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Energy prices are set to increase on October 1 and in the last two weeks more than 1,500 reports of this scam were made nationally.

Detective Chief Inspector Hayley King said: “It is shameful that in a time of financial hardship, criminals are targeting members of the public by claiming they are entitled to receiving rebates and refunds.

“If an email is genuine, the company will never push you into handing over your details.”

Watford residents have also issued warnings on social media after being targeted by the scam, with one adding that the text came from a mobile number.

The council has advised anyone who receives these texts to forward suspicious text messages to the free service 7726.

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