This tough economic climate has seen monthly energy bills become more of a worry for many more families. It’s also made many more people prime targets for energy scams.
Exploiting the cost-of-living crisis, scammers are targeting vulnerable people and households by offering fraudulent solutions to lower energy bills. They often do this by illegally tampering with or removing people’s gas and/or electricity meters.
These energy scams not only trick you out of your hard-earned money when finances are already stretched thin, but they also put lives in danger. It's appalling behaviour from dangerous criminals.
The risk of being scammed is higher than ever. In 2022 alone, over 40 million people were targeted by scammers, with 12% of these scams related to energy (Citizens Advice).
Energy scammers often pose as energy suppliers to gain your trust. They claim to need personal information or bank details to issue refunds, offer inexpensive prepayment meter top-up cards and grants, or provide energy-saving devices.
Fortunately, there is information available to help you understand and avoid these energy scams so you can protect and your loved ones.
Understanding Energy Scams
Various energy scams offer to remove or exchange your meter for a fee. These criminals claim it’s safe and legal. This is a dangerous lie.
Removing or tampering with your meter to cut down on bills is energy theft. It doesn’t matter whether it’s done by you, a friend of a friend, or a stranger on your behalf. Only a qualified and accredited meter installer can legally carry out any work on your meter, and this work always needs to be approved by your energy supplier.
Saving money on your bills might seem appealing, but that’s only because many people are unaware of the severe consequences associated with energy scams. Once you are aware, it’s not so tempting.
Meter tampering or removal can result in electrical shocks, severe burns, deadly gas leaks, and devastating explosions. Learn more about the risks of energy theft here.
If you are aware that meter tampering has taken place, or even just suspect it, always report it to Stay Energy Safe by calling 0800 023 2777, or by filling out the online form. Reporting is 100% anonymous, always.
Learn what to do in an emergency and which numbers to call here.
Penalties for committing energy theft can include up to 5 years in prison and hefty fines starting at £2,000 and going as high as £50,000, depending on the severity of the energy theft and the impact on the community. You will also be responsible for paying for the cost of any stolen energy and the cost of fixing or replacing the tampered or removed meter.
If I install my own electric or gas meter, who do I pay?
The same regulations apply. Your energy supplier must authorise it, and an accredited meter installer must perform the installation.
You must still pay your energy supplier for the gas and electricity you use. You must either provide them with accurate meter readings, or allow them to read the meter, to ensure accurate billing.
Types of Energy Scams
Energy scams vary wildly. These criminals are always hard at work thinking of new ways to steal your money. But they are always cloaked under the offering of energy services or tempting savings on your bills.
Energy scammers often create fake emails or websites that appear to be from legitimate companies. They may call, or show up at your door, looking and sounding the part. They might claim that someone tried to reset your password, that you are owed money, or that they haven't received your payments. They might offer you great savings, an energy grant, or to install a new smart meter, or maintain your solar panels.
It’s a lose-lose situation for victims. If criminals do follow through on promises to reduce bills, their meter tampering will put innocent lives in danger. If they don’t, those victims could lose large sums of money with the energy scammer pocketing their hard-earned cash.
It’s easy to get reeled in. Lots of people do. It’s essential to stay on your guard. Remember the saying – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Some recent energy scams have featured tactics that should make you suspicious:
Impersonation of OVO Energy Scam
The OVO Energy scam involves scammers impersonating OVO Energy representatives, by phone or through fraudulent emails. They might offer fake discounts and overpayment refunds – but it is always about pressuring people to share personal information.
Impersonation of EDF Energy Scams
EDF scams often feature phishing emails from criminals pretending to be an EDF Energy employee. These energy scammers might claim there is an urgent issue with your account that requires payment or personal details right away to resolve it. One British couple lost thousands of pounds through this scam.
Impersonation of Octopus Energy Scam
Scammers posing as Octopus Energy agents contact consumers over the phone or by email. These Octopus energy scams aim to trick consumers into providing personal information such as usernames, passwords, or bank details. They may offer some type of payment or compensation for providing these personal details.
Energy Grant Text Scam
The Energy Grant Email scam involved the sending of fake texts containing links where people could supposedly apply for the government’s £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme. These texts appeared genuine and asked potential victims to provide personal or financial information. There was no financial support waiting for victims; the criminals’ aim was to commit identity theft or financial fraud.
The Energy Grant scheme ended in 2023, so any texts about it now would be extremely suspicious.
Smart Meter Scams
Fraudsters pose as energy company representatives to trick people into Smart Meter scams. They offer smart meter installations to reduce your energy bills. Scammers may demand an installation fee or personal details under the guise of setting up the service. The intention of smart meter scams is always to trick you out of money or sensitive information (identity theft can have long-term impacts on victims). Smart meters should only be installed by a qualified and accredited meter installer, with the agreement of your supplier.
If you would like a smart meter installed, you can contact your energy supplier who can arrange this for you free of charge.
Meter Reading Scams
Meter Reading scams involve scammers pretending to be from an energy company, either visiting homes or contacting consumers by phone or email, requesting recent meter readings. The scammer’s goal is to gain access to your home or trick you into giving up your personal and financial information.
Genuine meter readers will always show you a photographic ID card and won’t mind if you call your energy supplier to verify who they are. For additional peace of mind, you can set up a password with your energy supplier for them to use when they visit your home.
Ofgem Scam
Some criminals fool people by sending fraudulent messages and calls claiming to be from the energy regulator Ofgem. One message asks people to apply for the £400 ‘non-repayable discount’. It sends a fake link to the Ofgem website, asking you to fill in personal details and set up a direct debit in order to receive the money. Ofgem will never sell you energy, ask for personal information or visit your home.
For more information from Ofgem on how to avoid energy scams, click here.
How to Identify an Energy Scam
If you’re at work, running errands, or looking after the kids, you’re less likely to spot suspicious behaviour. Energy scammers count on this.
The best way to protect yourself and loved ones from an energy scam is to learn the tell-tale signs:
- Does it seem too good to be true? Offers of special prize wins, drastically reduced rates or discounts that seem significantly better than those available directly from the energy company should be red flags. Unfortunately, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
- Are you being pressured to transfer money quickly? Energy scammers create a sense of urgency, so you don’t ‘miss out on an amazing deal’, or they threaten immediate consequences if you don’t act right away. This pressure makes people act without thinking. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
- Are you being asked to pay in an unusual way? Be suspicious of requests for payment via wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Are you being asked to provide personal information like PINs or passwords? Legitimate energy companies will never ask for information like this on the phone or via email.
- Does the person create the feeling this isn’t a real company? If they can’t provide verifiable contact information, or their credentials don’t check out, it’s very likely to be an energy scam.
- Does the email or message look unusual? Look for spelling or grammatical errors, email addresses that don’t have the company name at the end, and graphics that look distorted, blurred or pixelated.
Remember:
- Don’t let strangers into your home unless you were expecting them.
- Beware of doorstep salespeople.
- Never give out any personal or financial information over the phone or by email.
- Never click on any unverified links or pop-up ads. Fraudsters will lead you to a site that asks for personal details or may install a virus on your computer.
- Legitimate smart meter installations do not require upfront fees. Your energy company will usually schedule meter readings. They will notify you in advance about smart meter installations through their official channels.
Reporting Scams and Protecting Yourself
Energy scams happen all the time and are becoming ever more sophisticated. If you do fall victim to one, don’t feel embarrassed – it can happen to anyone.
If you are worried you have already been a victim of an energy scam, contact your bank to recover or stop payments, or freeze your account if necessary. Contact your energy supplier too. They can help you get an authorised meter re-installed safely.
If you’re unsure if something is genuine, always take time to think. Don’t let anyone push you into making any rushed decisions. A real energy company would never do this.
If you are aware of someone offering these services and suspect it is an energy scam, don’t click on any links or call numbers they provide.
If you’re struggling to pay your energy or household bills, extra help could be available:
- If you’re eligible, you might be able to get financial help from the UK Government.
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can help homes in England and Wales switch from an old boiler to a heat pump or biomass boiler.
- The Great British Insulation Scheme is also available in England, Scotland and Wales to help homes get free or cheaper home insulation.
- In Scotland, you can get free and impartial advice from Home Energy Scotland,
- Home Energy Scotland works closely with Trading Standards Scotland to help householders avoid energy scams.
- In Wales, Nest provides free, impartial advice on energy efficiency, benefit entitlement and more. You may also be eligible for home energy efficiency improvements.
- If you live in North East England, get advice on energy saving home improvements at Home Energy Advice North East or call 0808 175 9345.
- For advice on everything from taking a meter reading to what to do if you are struggling to pay your energy bill, Citizens Advice can help.