“Housing allowance” text messages circulating: City of Vienna now clarifies
The City of Vienna is warning residents about fake SMS messages about Wohnbeihilfe (housing allowance) that are currently circulating.
According to the Stadt Wien (City of Vienna), the messages are not from official authorities. The texts claim to be about Wohnbeihilfe payments and often include links asking people to provide personal data or bank details. Officials say these are scam attempts designed to steal information.
The Wohnbeihilfenstelle (Housing Allowance Office) at the Magistratsabteilung 50 (Municipal Department 50) made it clear that they do not send such unsolicited SMS messages with links. All official communication about Wohnbeihilfe goes through letters, email from wohnbeihilfe@ma50.wien.gv.at, or via http://wien.gv.at.
Wohnbeihilfe is a financial support payment in Vienna to help with housing costs. Eligibility depends on household size, income, apartment size, and housing expenses. Applications can be submitted in person at Heiligenstädter Straße 31, by post, email, or online, and must be renewed every year. bf0efb2b
The city is urging people who receive suspicious SMS messages to not click any links and not share personal data. If in doubt, residents should contact the Wohnbeihilfenstelle directly by phone at +43 1 4000-74880 or visit http://wien.gv.at for official information. bf0e
Authorities recommend reporting fraudulent messages to the police. Vienna officials say they are working to stop the spread of the scam and protect people applying for support.