Scam text messages impersonating the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme are being sent to households as the £400 energy grant is rolled out, the consumer body Which? reported on 4 October 2022. The texts claim the recipient is eligible for a discounted energy bill and direct them to a fake application link1.
One of the messages, sent from the number 07542 337161, reads:
"GOV.UK: You are eligible for a discounted energy bill under the Energy Bills Support Scheme. You can apply here: [https://energy.support-rebate.com]."
Which? said the texts arrive from various phone numbers, all reported as suspicious on the number checking website Who Called Me. The link uses the words "energy", "support" and "rebate" to appear legitimate, but Which? stated that all official government information is found on its website at www.gov.uk. Clicking the link leads to a new window warning that the website is suspicious and potentially dangerous1.
Which? said the grant does not require an application: "Your grant will be applied to your energy account automatically." It added that the scam capitalises on the fact that the government's £400 energy grant is now being rolled out1. The £400 payment is part of the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which has since closed.
Which? also referred to earlier energy scams it had covered: fraudsters calling households pretending to be from their council and asking for card details to make a £150 energy rebate payment, and scammers impersonating Ofgem by email, text and website to request banking details for fake energy refunds1.
Why it matters for households
The £400 grant is paid automatically through energy accounts, so a text asking a householder to apply for it is not a step in the real process. A household that follows the link and enters details risks losing money and banking information rather than gaining any support, and the loss lands at the same time as higher bills. The episode also matters for energy independence in a narrower sense: schemes that pay money directly to households depend on people recognising genuine contact from imposters, and a convincing fake can undermine confidence in the real scheme. Which? has separate guidance on energy grant scams and fake government schemes and on how to spot and report an energy scam.
What happens next
Which? advised forwarding such messages to 7726 to report the scam and then blocking the phone number. It said anyone who has given away personal banking information, or who has fallen victim to a scam, should contact their bank immediately1. No figures on the number of messages sent or the amounts lost have been reported.