Fake Energy Rebate Text Scams via SMS
Unsolicited text messages claim the recipient is owed a government or energy supplier rebate, using a link to a fake page designed to steal banking details or account credentials.
Part of: Fake Energy Rebate Text Scams
Last reviewed: 13 July 2026
SMS is the primary channel for this scam because it can reach a large number of energy customers cheaply and creates urgency by mimicking the format of genuine supplier or government rebate announcements. Messages often arrive around periods when real energy support schemes are in the news, borrowing credibility from legitimate announcements.
How this scam works on SMS
The text claims the recipient qualifies for an energy rebate or credit and includes a link to 'claim' it by entering bank account or card details. The linked page is designed to closely resemble a real government or energy supplier site, often reusing official logos and color schemes.
Some versions ask only for banking details to 'process the refund,' while others request a small verification payment or full online banking login credentials. Because the message plays on genuine cost-of-living concerns and real rebate schemes that have existed in some markets, recipients may be more inclined to respond quickly without independently verifying the claim first.
Common red flags
- An unsolicited text claims you're owed an energy rebate and provides a link to claim it
- The link leads to a page requesting full bank details or online banking login credentials
- The message creates urgency with a deadline to claim before the rebate 'expires'
- The sender number is a standard mobile number rather than a verified short code used by your supplier or government agency
- You have not been separately notified of any rebate through your actual supplier's official account or bill
- The web address in the link doesn't match your energy supplier's or government's real domain
How to protect yourself
- Never click links in unsolicited texts claiming to offer an energy rebate
- Verify any rebate claim by logging into your energy supplier's account directly or checking your official government energy support scheme page
- Check whether any current rebate scheme actually exists in your area before responding
- Never enter online banking login credentials on a page reached through a text message link
- Contact your energy supplier directly using the number on a genuine past bill to confirm any rebate
- Delete and report the message rather than replying, even to opt out
How to report it
- Forward the scam text to your national spam-reporting short code (e.g., 7726 in the UK) if available
- Report to Action Fraud in the UK or the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov elsewhere
- Report the phishing page to your energy supplier's official fraud or security team
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if I'm actually eligible for an energy rebate?
Log in to your energy supplier's account directly (not through the text link) or check your government's official energy support scheme website, which will list eligibility criteria and how genuine rebates are actually paid, usually automatically rather than requiring you to submit bank details through a link.
I entered my bank details on the fake rebate page — what should I do now?
Contact your bank immediately to flag the account for possible fraud and monitor for unauthorized transactions; your bank can advise on next steps, which may depend on the payment method and timing — contact them directly as soon as possible.
Do genuine energy rebates ever require me to click a text link and enter my bank details?
Genuine rebate schemes are typically applied automatically to your energy account or bill, or require you to log in directly to your supplier's or government's official portal — they do not require entering full bank details through a link sent via unsolicited text.
Why do these scam texts sometimes reference a real rebate scheme?
Scammers deliberately reference real, newsworthy rebate or cost-of-living support schemes to make their fake message seem plausible, borrowing credibility from legitimate government announcements even though the text itself is unrelated to the real scheme.
Can I get money back if I paid a small 'verification fee' requested by the fake text?
Contact your card issuer or bank to dispute the charge; whether it can be recovered may depend on the payment method and timing — contact them directly, since verification fees requested via text link are never a legitimate part of any real rebate process.