Warning: 'WASPI' women affected by State Pension age rise should watch out for 'steep rise' in scams

In December 2024, the Government acknowledged and apologised for a 28-month delay in writing to some 1950s-born women about a rise in the State Pension age. However, it confirmed that those affected would NOT receive compensation. WASPI plans to challenge this decision in the High Court, but this has yet to take place, and any announcement about compensation would come from the Government directly.

In the meantime, WASPI and Independent Age are specifically warning people to watch out for scams claiming to offer compensation, in particular a website falsely claiming that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is providing compensation.

MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) founder Martin Lewis is also warning people about the rise in WASPI scams as one website has outrageously named itself the "Martin Lewis WASPI Calculator" – though this is NOTHING to do with Martin or with MSE.

Martin Lewis: 'Be incredibly careful – I DON'T do ads'

WASPI scams are on the rise – here's what to look out for

Below are some of the specific scams reported. One website used a photo of the Prime Minister Keir Starmer next to the false claim that the DWP has announced a compensation scheme:

Another site encourages users to enter their name and date of birth in order to determine whether they are eligible for compensation – once again, this is NOT us:

There have also been reports of 1950s-born women receiving emails asking for sensitive information, such as birth certificates and bank details.

As well as the specific examples above, you should also keep an eye out for:

• Incorrect spelling or grammar. This is usually a sign that the information isn't coming from an official or trustworthy source.

• Warnings about a "last chance" or "final deadline". Scammers will often rush you into making decisions, so if you're being asked to hit a deadline, something dodgy is probably going on. Always take a moment to stop and think through what you're being asked.

• Mentions of Martin. He's used in the most UK scams of any celebrity, but he DOESN'T do ads or endorsements, so any claims with his face or name attached should ring alarm bells unless it comes from us. If we haven't covered it on MSE, chances are Martin has nothing to do with it.

If you see any ads, websites or emails like the ones we've described, do NOT provide any personal information. For further guidance on spotting and avoiding scams, see our 30+ ways to stop scams guide. To check for any official announcements on the WASPI campaign, go to Gov.uk.

What to do if you think you've been scammed

We break down the steps to take if you think you've been scammed in our 30+ ways to stop scams guide, but in brief, end all further communication with the scammer immediately, then:

1. Call your bank directly if you've provided card or bank details. Let them know about any money you've lost and ask them to cancel any payments that haven't yet been made. Make sure you find your bank's contact details independently – for example, by calling the phone number on the back of your card or on your bank statement.
   
   Alternatively, for speed and ease, you can call the 159 hotline instead – this will connect you directly with your bank.

2. Report the scam. You can do this via the Action Fraud website or by calling 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales or Northern Ireland). If you're in Scotland, report a scam via the Consumeradvice website or call it on 0808 164 6000. You can also report scams to Police Scotland on 101.
   
   Another option (UK-wide), if it's an online scam, is to report it to the Advertising Standards Authority. Do this in addition to reporting it to Action Fraud or Consumeradvice.

3. Use Section 75 if you've been scammed when paying for something costing more than £100 on a credit card. If you used a debit card or spent exactly £100 or less on a credit card, you could try to claim your money back under the chargeback scheme instead.
   
   Unfortunately, if you've transferred the money using sites such as Moneygram, PayPal or Western Union, you generally can't get your money back once you've handed it over.

4. For more help and support, contact Citizens Advice (England and Wales), Citizens Advice Scotland, or NIdirect (Northern Ireland). Alternatively, call the Financial Conduct Authority's helpline on 0800 111 6768 (UK-wide).