Urgent DWP warning as WASPI women targeted by little known scam | Personal Finance | Finance
Vulnerable pension claimants are being warned of scam sites as government delays fuel deceitful schemes.
Women affected by sudden changes to the State Pension age—known as Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI)—are increasingly falling victim to fraudulent websites that claim to help them secure compensation.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and government officials have issued urgent warnings about these scams, which have surged amid delays in official action on compensation for women born in the 1950s.
In a recent House of Lords session, Labour’s Lord Davies of Brixton voiced concern over the delays, warning that the absence of an official response “is leaving people affected prey to scammers who are offering to assist them in making claims.”
This comes as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that these women were victims of maladministration and recommended compensation at Level Four, an amount of £1,000 to £2,950 per individual.
This comes as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that these women were victims of maladministration and recommended compensation at Level Four, an amount of £1,000 to £2,950 per individual.
Baroness Sherlock, Under-Secretary for the DWP, emphasized in her response that there is currently no compensation scheme in place.
“Anyone claiming to offer it is scamming, and nobody should touch it—please can that message go out loud and clear,” she said.
The WASPI campaign, which has advocated for affected women, reported a spike in fake compensation sites over the summer.
These websites claim that WASPI women can receive compensation, often using fraudulent forms and high claims of potential payouts to attract victims.
WASPI has urged people to remain vigilant, noting that many of these scams appear to originate outside of the UK.
The scam sites have capitalized on the uncertainty surrounding compensation, as DWP and PHSO figures estimate the payout for affected women could range from £3.5 billion to £10.5 billion—excluding administrative costs.
Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds confirmed that the DWP is evaluating these costs but has not finalized any compensation scheme.
Emma Reynolds also assured Parliament that the government will soon provide an official response, saying: “Once this work has been undertaken, we will be in a position to outline our approach.”
The DWP has directed those affected to be wary of any compensation offers and report fraudulent sites to Action Fraud.
For those in Scotland, Police Scotland has provided additional support and resources via its 101 service.
