According to the Office for National Statistics fraud has increased by 25% since the Covid-19 pandemic
There have been calls for members of the public to remain vigilant and report all scams.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to spot the energy bill scam.
What is an energy bill scam?
An energy bill scam is when a fraudster contacts someone by phone or text, promising them money off their energy bills.
They will often pretend to be from a reputible company and ask for personal information, including the consumer’s bank details.
There is usually an urgency with the call, with the fraudster pressuring the consumer to give up information in order to avail of certain offers or deals.
What do fraudulent texts look like?
Scams are unfortunately nothing new, but have been steadily increasing since the Covid-19 pandemic.
With the growing cost-of-living crisis, many people have been receiving fraudulent texts in relation to the government energy support scheme.
Ofgem have stated that any bill deductions will come from your energy supplier and be automatically applied to your bill and that there is no need to apply for any scheme.
Those who are on a prepayment metre will receive vouchers to the same value.
Ofgem and your energy provider will not ask for your bank details over the phone or via text, the only reason you would need to contact your supplier is if you do not receive the discount…
