Scam Alerts: the Energy tricks doing the rounds
"Free" grants, callers who say they're from the government, and a "last chance" before a scheme closes. Here's how the tricks work, the red flags, and what a proper firm does instead. Updated whenever an official warning comes out.
Sources checked 9 October 2026, and 13 October 2026 for the five newest alerts. Listed at the bottom of the page.
How common are Energy scams?
Citizens Advice surveyed 2,112 UK adults and found that more than 19 million adults had been targeted by a "green" scam in the past year, and an estimated 5.2 million had fallen for one. Email, phone calls and texts were the most common approaches. 2021 survey
National Trading Standards, using data from nearly 10,000 call blockers in people's homes, found that scam calls offering Energy grants rose 85% in a single month (August to September 2022). The calls offered Solar panels, loft Insulation, spray foam, glazing and Boiler replacement. 2022 data
These are the most recent national figures of their kind that I could find at the source. They're a few years old, so I've dated them rather than dress them up as new. When a newer official figure is published, it goes here.
What's doing the rounds now?
- 13 Oct 2026
"Free Solar panels" on a government grant
The main government grant for home heating, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales), pays towards Heat Pumps and biomass Boilers, and nothing else. It has no Solar or Battery category at all. If someone says a grant makes Solar "free", ask them to name the scheme in writing, then look it up on gov.uk or Ofgem's website yourself before you sign anything. checked 13 Oct 2026
- 9 Oct 2026
ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026: expect "last chance" pressure
The government extended ECO4 by nine months, so it now ends on 31 December 2026. The Great British Insulation Scheme ended on 31 March 2026. A genuine closing date is a gift to a pressure seller. Ofgem's own guidance says installers are not approved by Ofgem, that you should ask any company that approaches you for its credentials, and that you should only agree to work once you've received a contract. You may be asked to pay towards the cost, and Ofgem says to shop around. checked 9 Oct 2026
- Jan 2026
Action Fraud is now "Report Fraud"
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Report Fraud has replaced Action Fraud. If anyone tells you to report to a different address, or asks for money to "recover" your losses, that's a second scam. The real details are below. checked 9 Oct 2026
- Nov 2025
Big savings promised, no working shown
The advertising regulator, the ASA, upheld a complaint about a Solar advert promising "drastically reduced bills". The firm hadn't shown adequate evidence for the claim, and the advert didn't say how much you might save or what the saving depends on. A savings figure is only as good as its working. Ask for it in writing, based on your own usage, the system's estimated generation and the Tariff it assumes. checked 13 Oct 2026
- Ongoing
"Green Energy cashback" cold calls
Callers claiming to be from a real Energy company have offered a "£1000 cheque as cashback" for buying "Green Energy", then asked for bank details. The real company had no such offer and doesn't make calls like this. Hang up, then ring the company on a number you find yourself. checked 9 Oct 2026
- Ongoing
"I'm calling from Ofgem"
Fraudsters pretend to be Ofgem, the government or an Energy company. They offer a free Boiler, a grant or a cheaper Tariff, by phone, email, text or at the door, and then ask for your bank details. Give them nothing. Hang up or close the door, then contact the organisation on a number you find yourself. checked 13 Oct 2026
- Ongoing
An out-of-the-blue "free check" of your Solar system
Solar owners, often customers of installers that have since gone out of business, are approached out of the blue and offered a free check of their system. The visit becomes a push for a maintenance contract, or a claim that expensive repairs are needed. Ask how the firm got your details. Agree to nothing on the day: get any repair quoted in writing, and get a second opinion. checked 13 Oct 2026
- Ongoing
A badge on the van, but not on the register
TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme, says some firms advertise themselves as TrustMark registered when they are not, with the logo on websites, vans and leaflets. A logo on its own proves nothing. Look the firm up on the scheme's own website (TrustMark's tool is called "Find a Business"). If it isn't there, walk away. You can report logo misuse to TrustMark, with evidence such as the quote or the leaflet. checked 13 Oct 2026
The red flags, and what a proper firm does instead
They came to you
An unexpected call, text, email or knock offering a "free" or "government" grant. Ofgem doesn't approve installers.
Today only
Pressure to decide now because the offer or the scheme is "about to close".
Bank details on the phone
Asking for your bank details, or saying they already have them and "just need to confirm".
"Fully funded"… but
The paperwork shows a contribution from you, or there's no written quote at all. Get it in writing before anyone starts.
A big deposit up front
For large jobs, pay in stages and avoid paying everything before the work is done.
Three quotes and a contract
A written quote and a written contract before any work. Get at least three quotes so you can judge what's fair.
You can check them yourself
A certification you can look up on the scheme's own website, such as TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme.
You pay safely
A credit card gives you the most protection, then PayPal or a debit card.
Advice on quotes, contracts, payment and TrustMark: Citizens Advice. Cold-call warning signs: Action Fraud. Ofgem's lines: its ECO guidance for homeowners.
Been caught, or worried you might have been?
Scotland has its own reporting routes; Citizens Advice links to them from its scams pages.
More plain-English guides
Written by an Engineer with 40+ years on safety-critical systems. Free to read, sources checked and dated.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026, except where marked 13 October 2026.
Citizens Advice, press release, 6 December 2021: "19 million targeted by a green scam" (Savanta survey of 2,112 UK adults, 17–20 September 2021) — citizensadvice.org.uk
National Trading Standards, as reported by PA Media, 3 November 2022: "Energy scam calls up 85% in single month" (call-blocker data) — via inverness-courier.co.uk
UK Government, "Extending the ECO4 end date: government response", 23 January 2026 — gov.uk
Ofgem, ECO "FAQs for domestic consumers and landlords" — ofgem.gov.uk
City of London Police, December 2025: "Report Fraud service goes live, with full public launch in January 2026" — cityoflondon.police.uk
Citizens Advice, "Reporting a scam" — citizensadvice.org.uk
Chartered Trading Standards Institute (Consumer Helpline number) — tradingstandards.uk
Action Fraud, "Watch out for green energy scam calls" — actionfraud.police.uk
GOV.UK, "Notice of approved grant categories and values for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme" (updated 29 September 2026), and Ofgem, "Boiler Upgrade Scheme" ("open in England and Wales") — gov.uk, ofgem.gov.uk · checked 13 October 2026
Which?, "Four ways energy scammers could con you", 16 October 2024 — which.co.uk · checked 13 October 2026
Advertising Standards Authority, ruling on a regional press advert for Solar panels, 26 November 2025 — asa.org.uk · checked 13 October 2026
TrustMark, "Protect yourself from logo misuse" — trustmark.org.uk · checked 13 October 2026
General information only. If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank and Report Fraud. SavingEnergy.com can't recover money or investigate a firm.