Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis says ‘don’t trust them’ | UK | News
Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder Martin Lewis previously took to social media to issue a stark warning. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he urged the public to “not trust” certain callers, revealing that people are receiving unsolicited calls offering grants while fraudulently invoking his name.
He explained: “I’m getting reports that a firm is cold calling people offering grants for renewables and quoting that MARTIN LEWIS had encouraged people to engage with the company. The call is UTTER B******S! This is not true. Don’t trust them. Politely disengage and don’t speak to them.”
Previously, MSE has drawn attention to scammers exploiting Martin’s image in advertisements, with the financial expert himself warning the public that he has no connection to such promotions. As the Liverpool Echo previously reported at the time he tweeted the warning, it’s therefore vital that you steer clear of any companies that say otherwise and treat it as fraud.
MSE warns: “They’re dangerous and you should be on your guard. Martin NEVER endorses products and nor does MSE – so don’t be fooled.”
The company add: “To be clear, when we say Martin and MSE never endorse products, we mean we don’t put our name or logo to ANYTHING. Yes, we mention individual products and services on our site, but we don’t ‘support’ them.”
April 1 changes to be aware of
Be extra careful about scam calls this week. Energy bills are expected to drop by about 7% from April, with the Government saying households could save around £150 on average.
When changes like this are announced, scammers often try to take advantage. They may even pretend to be Martin or use his brand to seem trustworthy and trick you into sharing personal or bank details.
Check what’s actually changing and whether you need to do anything – most people won’t. Forecasts suggest Ofgem will lower the energy price cap by £117, bringing it down to £1,641 a year for a typical dual-fuel home from 1 April. The official announcement is expected on Wednesday
In November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said £150 would be knocked off the average household bill from April by scrapping the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme introduced by the Conservatives. However, households have been warned not to expect a flat £150 discount. The exact saving will depend on the size of the home and how much energy is used.
What do I do if I have come across a Martin Lewis scam?
Details about the fraudulent Martin Lewis advertisements and how to safeguard yourself against them can be found here – including warning signs to watch for. The MSE team has also set out measures to help you steer clear of scams, alongside advice on what action to take if you suspect you’ve already been caught out.
CALL: Ring your bank directly and halt any payments that haven’t yet gone through (including recurring payments). For convenience and speed, you can dial the 159 hotline to reach the fraud department of major banks.
REPORT: Report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the Action Fraud website (England, Wales or Northern Ireland). If you’re in Scotland, report a scam through Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or via the Advice Direct Scotland website. 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 / Advice Direct Scotland.
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