Four ways energy scammers could con you

Changes to our energy bills offer a prime opportunity for scammers to sow confusion – and this year is no different.

In July, the government announced plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners not claiming means-tested benefits.

Some older people may need to take action by claiming Pension Credit to continue receiving the annual payment of either £200 or £300.

Changes like this can provide an easy cover story for scammers. That's why Which? is warning people to be extremely wary of calls, texts and emails claiming to be from your energy supplier, the government or Ofgem.

If you're in any doubt, avoid clicking on links in messages and contact your supplier directly using the details on your bill – or go to Gov.uk for more info.

Read on to find out about the energy scams to be aware of amid stretched household budgets, and how to protect yourself.

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Winter fuel payment and other subsidy scams

A scam text claims that 'the government decided to provide subsidies in the form of living expenses' due to 'the cancellation of heating subsidies this winter.'

The message includes a malicious link which leads to a website attempting to steal your personal and financial information to 'apply' for the subsidy. 

Don't respond to dodgy messages and don't click on any links. Forward the message to 7726 to report it.

Brazen fraudsters have also repeatedly posed as the energy regulator, Ofgem, to offer free boilers, cheaper tariffs, grants or energy efficiency upgrades. 

Victims typically receive a cold call, email, text or doorstep visit from someone claiming to represent the regulator and asking for bank details.

Which? had previously warned in 2022 of a bogus email and website using the Ofgem logo.

Suspicious websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre.

• Top tip Never hand over your personal or bank details without stopping to think first about how to verify what you've been told using verified contact details. A genuine representative wouldn't mind you doing this. Contact the organisation they claim to be representing directly before you go any further. 

Fake pre-payment offer

If you had a knock on your door from someone offering half-price energy on your prepayment meter, would you be tempted?

Action Fraud has warned that gangs of criminals are cloning prepayment meter keys with, for example, £100 of credit on them, before selling them door to door for just £50. Sometimes the criminals even pose as energy company employees.

This may seem like a good deal, but it can backfire spectacularly months – or even years – down the line. Eventually, your legitimate supplier realises you’re not buying enough energy to be consistent with normal use, and investigates you.

You may then find yourself paying again for the energy used – this time at full whack – so you end up paying more than if you'd paid the honest way.

• Top tip Never engage with or purchase any goods or services from doorstep salespeople, because you may struggle to locate them again and obtain a refund if you have problems with your purchase. Don’t let anyone into your home unless you were already expecting them.

Solar scammers

Solar panels have become more common in the UK, although some households have had them in place for a decade or more. These systems require maintenance and repair and, in a few cases, the firms that originally installed them have stopped trading.

Customers of those defunct firms have reportedly been approached out of the blue and offered a free check of their installation. This is often accompanied by a high-pressure attempt to sell a maintenance contract or a forceful suggestion that the system needs expensive repairs.

If you are in this situation, ask the company how it got your contact details and confirm whether it has consent to contact you. If it's cold calling you and behaving disreputably from the outset, that's a major red flag.

At best, services could be overpriced, with shoddy workmanship; at worst, a scammer could take your money and run.

As with the purchase of the solar panel systems themselves, you should not feel pressured into signing a contract without having all the information you need to make the decision. Ideally, you should see clear calculations from the new company, demonstrating how their services will increase the benefit you get from your solar panels, set against its cost.

• Top tip Do your homework before signing up, obtain several quotes and check websites and reviews carefully. Read our advice on solar panel cold calls to watch out for.

Meter tampering

In June 2023, research from the insurer Direct Line revealed that 30% of electricians and gas engineers had spotted signs of meter tampering while on call-outs.

Bypassing a meter or removing pipework might save a few pounds, but it can be exceptionally dangerous – not just for the perpetrator, but for unsuspecting neighbours. 

In 2021, toddler George Arthur Hinds died in a gas explosion at his family home in Heysham, near Morecambe, because the next-door neighbour, Darren Greenham, had removed a length of gas pipe with an angle grinder to sell it for scrap, and had bypassed his gas meter to steal gas.

Greenham, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, damaging a gas meter and theft of gas, was jailed for 15 years.

Familiarise yourself with Ofgem's list of warning signs that a supply has been tampered with.

• Top tip If you suspect a meter has been tampered with, you can report it anonymously to Stay Energy Safe on 0800 023 2777. If you smell gas, open the doors and windows, turn off the gas (if you can do so safely), exit the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Calls to these numbers are free.