Households desperately waiting for help paying their rising energy bills are being reminded that the government cash will arrive without them needing to do anything.

With gas and electric bills set to leap again next month, there are concerns that increasing numbers of those waiting for the money will be tricked into handing over personal details.

Every household with a domestic energy contract is to be given £400 this winter to help them meet the costs of higher bills, which are also being frozen by the government as part of efforts to try and make them more affordable.

The money, which won't have to be paid back, will start arriving in October in steady monthly instalments and will be paid right around until March automatically and regardless of whether people pay for their energy monthly or quarterly.

Those who pay by direct debit will see the extra money appear as a credit on statements, which should help reduce their overall bills, while those using pre-payment meters will be sent vouchers via text, email or post to redeem - but neither will require customers' involvement.

Action Fraud, regulator Ofgem and consumer group Which? are among those warning bill payers waiting for the first lot of cash to drop to be aware of scammers who are already trying to exploit the start of the scheme.

More than 1,500 reports have been made to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) already about scam emails purporting to be about energy rebates from Ofgem, the independent energy regulator for Great Britain.

While experts at Money Saving Expert say they too have been sent reports of fraud attempts which are using the cost of living support schemes as a way to trick people into giving out personal details such as bank account information.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: "Fraudsters are always on the lookout for new ways to part people from their hard-earned cash and unfortunately, the energy crisis is no exception.

"It is important to remember that the energy discount will be automatically applied by your supplier and they will never ask for bank details. Customers on traditional prepayment meters will receive the rebate via vouchers.

"Consumers should be on high alert for energy-related scams and if in any doubt, should verify the email directly with the company before giving any personal information."

Regulator Ofgem says it is working with the National Cyber Security Centre to try and prevent attacks as we get closer to the first payments arriving but is reminding anyone who is unsure about something they're being asked to do, to pause and check.

A spokesman added: "Genuine organisations won’t mind you calling back; only scammers apply pressure and insist you hand over details immediately. If you have any doubts about a message, consumers should contact the organisation directly and not use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website."

It is not unusual for fraudsters to exploit current affairs or items in the news in order to make their scam messages or fake phone calls appear more genuine to those they are targeting.

The warning about the rise of scam energy-related messages comes just days after the National Cyber Security Centre was forced to alert people to an increased risk of scam texts, phone calls and emails as a result of the Queen's death.

With opportunistic criminals prone to exploiting topical issues to trick people, those in the UK are being warned to be alert to messages which mention the late monarch's death and ask people to hand over personal or financial information.