As the loadshedding situation in South Africa worsens, many desperate citizens are turning to solar power at their homes or businesses to keep the lights on and – hopefully – save on energy costs in the long run. Unfortunately, with increased demand in solar installations, unsavoury characters are taking advantage of consumers’ growing desperation.
Here are some simple tips to avoid getting scammed out of your hard-earned money:
- Verify that a company is legit. Don’t just rely on a link sent to you by an alleged service provider.
- Online service review sites can save you thousands – read what other customers have to say about a specific company before you decide to enter into any agreement.
- Compare the website links provided by a supposed installer with the web address of the company they claim to work for. Scammers will often amend a web address only slightly.
Example: A legitimate URL will be https://www.fakesolarpowercompany.co.za while the fake website will be listed as http://www.fakesolarpowerscompany.com
- Scam sites will often use other websites’ or companies’ images as “proof” of work completed. Do a quick reverse image search online to check whether an image was used elsewhere before. Here’s how to perform a reverse image search.
- Ensure the company you’re dealing with is accredited. The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has put together an extensive list of accredited solar installation companies. You can request these…
