Trading Standards - Energy Grant Scams

21st August 2025

According to this year's Big Scottish Scam Survey, the most common scams were related to energy saving measures.

48% of those surveyed had experienced one of these scams in the last year.

In most cases, this involved a cold caller providing misleading information about the availability of grants or funding for products such as insulation, boilers, heating and double glazing.

Several respondents had received cold calls saying they could save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills by completing a survey to check if they were eligible to receive a government grant. Other scam calls said that homeowners in their area had been selected to receive grants for energy saving products.

Some consumers had been cold called by a company who said they were working in partnership with a charitable organisation to offer grants for the installation of new double glazing.

The cold caller typically said that the householder could be eligible to receive a 'Government-backed grant' to fit new windows and doors. They asked them to visit a website, which was designed using logos and styles similar to Scottish Government websites in order to appear legitimate.

This scam website included a link to apply for a 'double glazing grant' - householders were asked to fill out personal details, including their employment status and income, to see if they were eligible to receive the grant.

After filling this in, they were typically called and offered an appointment to carry out a 'free' survey of their existing windows and doors. During this visit, a salesperson often provided misleading information about the availability of grants.

How to Avoid
Don't accept any information from online adverts or cold callers about energy saving measures without doing independent research, particularly if they tell you that there are grants or funding schemes available.

Many councils do offer funding and grants for energy products to eligible households via Area Based Schemes. If a cold caller says that you are eligible for a grant or funding for energy efficiency improvements in your home, such as new boilers, insulation, heating or windows, always verify that their offer is valid before agreeing to any deal.

You can do this by calling Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or visiting www.homeenergyscotland.org - they will be able to tell you about any funding available in your area. They also offer free and impartial information about energy saving measures.

Avoid taking part in any phone surveys from cold callers or following their instructions to fill out online forms or questionnaires about energy efficiency measures. These are designed to collect data and generate leads for companies who engage in misleading marketing.

If you are thinking about installing energy efficiency measures in your home, seek impartial advice from trusted companies rather than trusting cold callers or online adverts.

Find Out More
Home Energy Scotland: www.homeenergyscotland.org
Trading Standards Scotland website: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/energy-marketing-scams
ScamShare Spotlight PDF on energy scams: www.tsscot.co.uk/Spotlight-Energy.pdf