Energy Bill Rebate Phishing Scams in the United Kingdom
Fake texts and emails impersonating Ofgem, energy suppliers, or the government promise UK households an energy rebate in exchange for bank details that are then used for fraud.
Part of: Energy Bill Rebate Phishing Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Genuine UK energy rebate and support schemes have been delivered automatically through energy suppliers or local councils, without requiring households to click a link and enter bank details to 'claim' anything. Scammers exploit public awareness of real cost-of-living support schemes, using the promise of an energy rebate to extract banking information under the guise of a claim process that does not actually exist in that form.
How this scam works on the United Kingdom
A text or email claiming to be from Ofgem, a named energy supplier, or the UK government tells the recipient they are eligible for an energy bill rebate or discount, and must click a link to confirm bank details to receive the payment. The linked page closely mimics a real supplier or gov.uk-style design, collecting sort code, account number, and sometimes a card number under the pretext of 'processing the rebate,' which is then used to attempt unauthorized withdrawals or sold on for further fraud.
Because real UK energy support schemes have at times been delivered automatically as a bill credit or, in some cases, paid directly by suppliers without any application, the scam versions invert this by demanding the household actively 'claim' a rebate and provide payment details, a step the genuine schemes typically do not require, making this framing itself one of the clearest signs of fraud.
Common red flags
- A text or email claiming you must click a link and enter bank details to 'claim' an energy rebate
- Sender addresses or links that do not match your actual energy supplier's official domain
- Urgency claiming the rebate will be lost unless you act within a short deadline
- Requests for a card number in addition to bank account details, unusual for a rebate that would normally be paid by BACS or bill credit
- References to Ofgem or the government initiating direct payment claims, when real schemes are usually administered through your supplier or council automatically
- Poor-quality logos, generic greetings, or spelling inconsistent with official UK supplier communications
How to protect yourself
- Contact your actual energy supplier directly using the number on a genuine bill or their official website to check rebate eligibility
- Never click links in unsolicited texts or emails claiming to offer an energy rebate
- Remember that genuine energy support has often been applied automatically as a bill credit, not via a claim link requiring bank details
- Check Ofgem's official website directly for information on any current support schemes rather than trusting an unsolicited message
- Report suspicious messages to your supplier's fraud team and to Action Fraud
- Warn older or vulnerable relatives, who are frequently targeted with these messages during high-profile cost-of-living news cycles
How to report it
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726 to report to your mobile network
- Report to Ofgem via their official website if the scam impersonates the regulator directly
- Report to your energy supplier's fraud or customer service team if their name was impersonated
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to claim UK energy rebates by clicking a link and entering my bank details?
Most genuine energy support in the UK has been applied automatically by suppliers or councils, so be highly suspicious of any message asking you to actively 'claim' a rebate through a link.
How can I check if an energy rebate scheme is real?
Check directly with your energy supplier using their official contact details or visit Ofgem's website by typing the address yourself, rather than clicking any link in an unsolicited message.