Gransnet forums

Chat

Energy Bill Rebate - is this a scam??

(94 Posts)
FannyCornforth Tue 20-Sep-22 08:40:51

Hi
I’ve just this minute received this text regarding the £400 rebate.

Is this how they are going about it, or is it dodgy?
It certainly looks legit, but I’m surprised if they are doing it by text message.

Thank you!

tickingbird Tue 20-Sep-22 08:42:43

I believe that’s a scam. You don’t need to apply. It should be applied automatically to your bills at £66 a time.

vampirequeen Tue 20-Sep-22 08:43:44

It's dodgy. The £400 is being paid to us by the energy companies. We pay our direct debit as usual and they refund £60+ each month for so many months.

Charleygirl5 Tue 20-Sep-22 08:45:24

That is a scam- you do not have to do anything because the £400 will be paid to your energy company and they will distribute the money each month I think for the next 4-6 months.

If you "register" you may well be saying goodbye to your bank account.

monk08 Tue 20-Sep-22 08:46:43

Check the phone number out it looks like a scam.

FannyCornforth Tue 20-Sep-22 08:47:13

Thank you!
Wow, I’m amazed at how ‘real’ it looks.
I’m quite savvy about these things and it had me fooled.
DH is vulnerable, and our energy company has texted us about this, so I thought that it was how they’d got my number.

Lucca Tue 20-Sep-22 08:47:53

Note the “published “ date.

FannyCornforth Tue 20-Sep-22 08:52:00

I’ve clicked on some of the links - including the option to read it in Welsh, and they don’t work.
Some do though.
It is very convincing.
The robbing b*******s ?

FannyCornforth Tue 20-Sep-22 08:52:59

Lucca

Note the “published “ date.

Well spotted you! grin

MaizieD Tue 20-Sep-22 08:55:41

Check out the relevant government web pages, too.

Is this scheme even still in operation, now that we have a'new' government?

FannyCornforth Tue 20-Sep-22 08:59:26

Even if they don’t ask for your bank details, which I expect they will (I’m not going to delve any deeper) they are going to be able to harvest an awful lot of personal data

MawtheMerrier Tue 20-Sep-22 09:01:19

Very dodgy - as others have said.
Your energy company will be issuing the refund and will have your bank details already.

karmalady Tue 20-Sep-22 09:10:40

report to actionfraud

www.actionfraud.police.uk/

It is a scam, reporting helps others

karmalady Tue 20-Sep-22 09:15:41

I went to an actionfraud talk the other week. It was eye opening and given by an ex police officer. The minute you give your bank details to anyone, they will have open access to your account

Most crimes now are frauds and many suck you in on a social level ie befriending, interest groups etc

A bit off topic

I will not ever use my debit account to pay for anything again. A cc transaction is between the bank and the seller and anything after that the cc company is liable. A debit card payment allows open access to your money

Allsorts Tue 20-Sep-22 09:17:10

I had a letter from my energy provider telling me how I was going to receive the £400. Had I not received then i would have thought it was legitimate. Is there no way fraud squad can catch the criminals that do this?

FannyCornforth Tue 20-Sep-22 09:57:59

Thanks karmalady, I will definitely report it.
Ta for the link, very useful

Callistemon21 Tue 20-Sep-22 10:02:06

FannyCornforth

Lucca

Note the “published “ date.

Well spotted you! grin

First thing I noticed too! ?

Beware, scams are becoming ever more prolific and sophisticated

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 20-Sep-22 10:03:49

So many of them are based outside the UK, Allsorts.

Lucca Tue 20-Sep-22 10:06:31

i will not ever use my debit account to pay for anything again. A cc transaction is between the bank and the seller and anything after that the cc company is liable. A debit card payment allows open access to your money

I only have a debit card. Tried a year ago to get a credit card but can’t due to not having credit problems….. weird.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 20-Sep-22 10:12:27

I have never used my debit card online, only my credit card. I don’t want to find my account has been emptied. I have had my cc details stolen a few times, inconvenient but always quickly sorted out.
I don’t understand Lucca. Have you checked your credit history?

Ginny42 Tue 20-Sep-22 10:15:57

I was told by security at my bank recently that there are fewer break-in robberies now because criminals are making a lot of money from such scams, and they don't risk physical confrontation by the homeowner/police.

Tizliz Tue 20-Sep-22 10:16:13

But all your bank details are on cheques and if you want to be paid via BACS you have to give out these details. I look at my account almost every day to check transactions.

The latest scam I had was a computerised phone call from my ‘bank’ - didn’t say which one - asking me to confirm a large transaction. As I always get a call from my bank on large transactions I could easily have fallen for this but a quick check on line showed all was ok.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 20-Sep-22 10:18:37

I don’t remember when I last paid anyone by cheque!

DaisyAnne Tue 20-Sep-22 10:19:30

Apparently, they are cloning the online Government page.

If you are concerned, I would contact your energy provider.

DaisyAnne Tue 20-Sep-22 10:20:40

FannyCornforth

I’ve clicked on some of the links - including the option to read it in Welsh, and they don’t work.
Some do though.
It is very convincing.
The robbing b*******s ?

I think you summed these people up nicely.