22nd October 2026
This week our Take Control of the Small Things campaign is focused on energy efficiency scams. Figures show that these scams are costing Scottish consumers an average of £5,000 per week.
According to a recent survey we carried out, 48% of Scots are worried about being able to afford their household energy bills this winter, with 33% having been approached via phone, email or online advertising with offers of cheap or free energy-saving products in the past year.
This edition of the bulletin features some recently reported energy scams, as well as links to trusted sources of information and advice on energy saving measures, as well as support if you are struggling with energy bills.
Energy Grants: Council Impersonation Scams
The Scam
There have been reports from across Scotland of cold callers who claim to be working on behalf of the local council or government and offer to carry out 'free' surveys of properties, before offering bogus grants to install energy efficiency measures such as insulation or solar panels.
Several householders were recently targeted by cold callers who claimed they were working on behalf of the government and could offer free installation of insulation or solar panels up to the value of £50,000. They tried to pressure residents into signing a deal on the spot, saying the 'grant scheme' would only be available for a few more days. However, when questioned by residents, the callers were unable to provide any details about the scheme.
There have also been cases where rogue traders have said they are working with the local council and can offer householders free quotes for solar panels or air source heat pumps. They say funding may be available from the council and ask people to provide personal and financial details.
How do I know if information about council or government funding is legitimate?
Area Based Schemes (ABS) are designed and delivered by local councils with local delivery partners, targeting fuel-poor areas and harder-to-treat properties, such as those requiring solid wall insulation or complex cavity wall insulation measures. They are currently being delivered in partnership with every local authority in Scotland.
Councils will send letters to households in areas that have been targeted for support, highlighting ways to sign up for the scheme. They may also run awareness events in the local area. They should not cold call households that have not previously received a letter about the scheme.
If you are not sure whether information you have received about grants or funding is legitimate, you can contact your local authority or Home Energy Scotland, whose advisors have details of current ABS activity and eligible postcode areas. They also have an online Funding Finder tool: https://homeenergyscotland-advice.est.org.uk/FundingFinder
How to Avoid Scams
Be cautious of any unsolicited approaches claiming to offer work on behalf of a council or Scottish Government scheme. Contact either your local authority directly, or Home Energy Scotland, to verify the legitimacy of any offer before agreeing to any work.
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 often designed to collect data and generate leads for companies who engage in misleading marketing.
Find out more
Home Energy Scotland: www.homeenergyscotland.org
Information on support from the Scottish Government: https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot/energy-bills
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
Loft Survey Scams
The Scam
There have been more reports of rogue traders offering to carry out 'free' loft surveys, supposedly on behalf of the government. They then go on to provide misleading information about the existing insulation in the property.
Last month a householder was phoned and advised that his home insulation was due for replacement. He was told that this would be provided under a Scottish Government campaign and that there would be no cost involved.
He agreed to arrange an appointment with a surveyor for the following day. The man who arrived at the property carried out an inspection of the loft, then told the householder he had found evidence of woodworm, which would need to be treated before the new insulation could be installed, at a cost of almost £1,500.
The householder agreed to pay a deposit and arranged for the fumigation work to be carried out. The following week, a worker arrived with a sprayer and spent some time in the loft, before asking for the remaining money to be paid via bank transfer. He said the insulation would be replaced the following week.
Following this visit, householder was unable to get in touch with the company to confirm a date for insulation installation and has still not heard anything from them.
In a similar case, a couple was phoned by a woman who claimed her company was in the local area carrying out loft insulation checks on behalf of the Scottish Government.
They agreed to have the inspection carried out and were visited by representatives of the company the following day. The 'surveyor' went into their loft, then told them he had found significant condensation in the woodwork that could cause part of the roof to rot if left untreated.
He offered to install a new ventilation system and replace the insulation, as well as applying an 'anti-mould' treatment, for a total cost of almost £4,000.
Although the couple were unsure whether to go ahead with the work, the 'surveyor' contacted them several times over the next few days and eventually convinced them to agree to sign the contract. The couple has limited mobility and were unable to go into the loft to check it for themselves.
Once the work had been completed, the couple's son discovered that the company had installed vents by punching holes through the roof and removing tiles. They had not installed new insulation or applied any anti-mould treatment.
How to Avoid
Don't deal with cold callers who offer a 'free' loft inspection - they may try to sell you energy saving or home improvement measures that you don’t actually need and which won’t provide any benefit.
If you are told about serious defects in your house or shown pictures of mould in your roof space, get a second opinion before starting any work.
If you are concerned about your existing insulation or any other energy saving measures in your home, seek impartial advice from trusted companies rather than cold callers or online adverts. Find sources of trusted advice below.
Have an impartial assessment carried out to determine which energy saving measures will actually benefit your home.
Don't provide any information to a cold caller and avoid arranging to make an appointment for a salesperson to visit your home.
If a cold caller claims to be working for or with the local council, hang up and phone the council to verify their identity.
Do plenty of research before making a decision - don't agree to make any payments for goods or services on the spot.
Home Energy Scotland advisors can help you understand which energy efficiency measures and low carbon or renewable technology improvements are right for your home. Home Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide free and impartial advice on energy efficiency measures - call them free on 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.
Scams should be reported to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or through their website: www.consumeradvice.scot
Find out More
Home Energy Scotland: www.homeenergyscotland.org
Leaflet on insulation: https://www.tsscot.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Insulation-A5-Leaflet.pdf
Trading Standards Scotland website: www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/energy-marketing-scams
Energy Supplier Impersonation Scams
The Scam
Rising fuel prices have led to an increase in scam calls and messages posing as energy suppliers. Scammers may ask you to take urgent action to avoid having your energy supply disrupted or being charged a fee.
Some people have received fake British Gas emails saying their gas service will be cut off if they don't pay an outstanding bill, or that they are due a refund due to a recent overpayment.
The emails include a link to make a payment - this leads to a malicious website with fake British Gas branding which asks you to enter personal and banking details.
There have also been reports of cold callers who claim they are from Ofgem and suggest that you switch energy supplier in order to save money. In some cases, they say they are carrying out tariff checks on addresses that might be most affected by rising energy prices. They ask for personal and bank details in order to complete the switch.
How to Avoid
Don't click on links in unexpected emails. Scam messages often ask you to act urgently - be suspicious of unexpected messages which appear to be from an official organisation and say you must provide your details or a payment within a certain time frame.
If you receive a similar message and are unsure if it is legitimate, contact your energy supplier using details found on a utility bill or on their official website.
British Gas have information on their website about recognising genuine communications from them and avoiding phishing emails.
You can forward scam British Gas emails to phishing@britishgas.co.uk
Ofgem will never ask for your bank details in relation to energy bills. They will never cold call or visit your house and will never ask for your personal information or try to sell you energy.
If you receive a cold call supposedly from Ofgem, hang up and don't give the caller any personal details.
If you are unsure whether a call about your energy supply is genuine, hang up and contact your supplier using a number from a recent bill or their official website.
Find out more
British Gas information on avoiding scams: www.britishgas.co.uk/business/help-and-support/my-online-account/online-security
Advice from Ofgem on avoiding scams: www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/avoid-and-report-energy-scams
National Cyber Security Centre: www.ncsc.gov.uk/phishing-scams
Dangerous 'Energy-Saving' Devices Online
The Scam
Earlier this year, consumer body Which? warned that potentially dangerous 'energy-saving' devices are being advertised online and via social media.
Some of the adverts claim the devices are a way of making savings on energy bills, either by saving energy or “stabilising electrical current.”
Which? purchased eight of these devices from online marketplaces including AliExpress, Temu, Amazon, eBay, Shein, and TikTok Shop and found no evidence that they work. They also failed to meet basic electrical safety standards, making them potentially dangerous and illegal to sell in the UK.
Similar devices that have been tested by Electrical Safety First also failed basic safety standards, with some exploding, risking fire and electric shock.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has also warned consumers to be on high alert for misleading mini-heater adverts, which exploit people's concerns about rising costs and high heating bills.
How to Avoid
Be wary when buying products from unknown websites or sellers, particularly if they promise to make savings on your energy bills and are advertised at a price that is significantly cheaper than similar branded products.
Electrical Safety First advise that you should only buy electrical products from trusted retailers and be wary of third-party sellers on online marketplaces.
Pay by credit card or a secure online payment system for stronger protection. Be suspicious if a seller will only accept payment via bank transfer.
Check independent reviews of the seller/store on official websites rather than relying on reviews hosted on the website itself.
Check the site’s return policy and terms and conditions and make sure you have contact information for the seller in case something goes wrong. The website should list a valid return address and contact details - be suspicious if a UK website has a returns address overseas and check that the address is listed with Companies House.
Electrical Safety First have created a browser extension, 'Check It Out', which is compatible with Amazon and eBay and will remind you when you are not buying directly from the manufacturer or a retailer you know and trust. Download it at www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/check-it-out
You can check that products you own are safe and see recent product recalls on the OPSS product safety alerts, reports and recalls site: www.gov.uk/guidance/product-recalls-and-alerts
If you see a misleading or scam advert online, you can report it to the ASA here: https://www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint/report-an-online-scam-ad.html
Find out More
Report an online scam ad to the ASA: https://www.asa.org.uk/make-a-complaint/report-an-online-scam-ad.html
Electrical Safety First guidance on buying electrical products safely online: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/2qgkkb5o/buying-electrical-goods-online-digital.pdf
Which? article: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/illegal-and-potentially-dangerous-energy-saving-plugs-still-widely-available
Advice on your consumer rights from Advice Direct Scotland: www.consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre
If you feel threatened or unsafe, contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Report scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.
Sign up to the Neighbourhood Watch Alert system to receive localised information and updates.
There is much more information out there but if you do not have time to read it all just think about being careful when answering phone calls, emails etc. If yu do ot perosnally kow the person on the phone be suspicious and hang up if in doubt.