Bogus websites are promising compensation payouts worth thousands of pounds to women who had their state pension age delayed by the government.
Campaigners from the group Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) have warned that fraudulent sites are claiming a compensation scheme has been announced by the government, and that some are asking for personal details to process claims.
The fake sites are appearing in internet searches for the terms “Waspi” or “Waspi compensation”, or in links in emails that urge women to sign up.
Some are using the name of the money-saving expert Martin Lewis to try to make their claims look legitimate. This week he warned that “compensation over the change in state pension age” seemed to be a new trend among scammers, and said he never allowed his name to be used for endorsements.
None of them can offer compensation because the government has refused to make any payouts.
What the scam looks like
A website suggesting you can get compensation for being one of the Waspi women.
The websites typically say you can claim for a payout worth several thousand pounds. They often mention the £2,950 figure that was the highest payout recommended last year by the parliamentary and health service ombudsman (PHSO).
Some of the sites have calculators claiming to show how much you could be owed in compensation. These suggest figures far in excess of those recommended by the PHSO.
What the fake sites asks for
One Waspi woman has reported being asked for her birth certificate and bank details.
Some sites appear to be trying to push people to sign up for other compensation schemes, including those for car finance (again, there is no official scheme currently).
What to do
Ignore anything claiming a compensation scheme exists – the government has rejected calls for payouts. Even though the case has been in the news again this year, with the Waspi group threatening legal action, that position has not changed.
If it does, the compensation would be administered by the government. The official Waspi campaign group website is a good place to check for the latest news on this.
If you have given away your bank details, call your bank. You can also report sites to Action Fraud.
