Fake Heat Pump Grant Scam on Facebook
Facebook ads and community group posts advertise government heat pump grants that require an upfront 'processing fee' or personal financial details to claim.
Part of: Fake Heat Pump Grant Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Facebook is a common home for the fake heat pump grant scam because its ad platform allows precise targeting of homeowners by location and age, and its local community groups let a convincing post about a 'limited time' government scheme spread quickly through neighbors who trust each other's recommendations.
How this scam works on Facebook
An ad or group post claims the government is offering free or heavily subsidized heat pump installation as part of a climate or energy efficiency scheme, often citing a real national grant program by name to borrow its credibility while attaching fake terms. Interested homeowners are directed to a lookalike application form that asks for personal and financial details, and are told a small upfront 'administration' or 'survey' fee is required to book an installer slot before the grant funds are released.
In some versions, after collecting the fee, the scammer sends a fake installer to conduct a superficial home visit, use the visit to pressure the homeowner into signing a expensive, non-grant financing agreement for equipment or work that is unnecessary or overpriced, exploiting the homeowner's belief that most of the cost is already covered by the grant they believe they registered for through the ad.
Common red flags
- An ad or group post demands an upfront fee to 'book' or 'process' a government heat pump grant
- The scheme name closely resembles but does not exactly match a real, verifiable government program
- The application form asks for bank details before confirming any actual eligibility
- Urgency language claims limited grant slots are about to run out
- The installer who eventually visits pressures a full-price financing agreement rather than confirming grant funding first
- The company or scheme cannot be verified on the official government energy grant website
How to protect yourself
- Check any heat pump or energy grant scheme directly on your national government's official energy department website before applying
- Never pay an upfront fee to apply for or reserve a government grant, since legitimate schemes do not charge to apply
- Verify any installer's accreditation with the relevant national certification body before booking a visit
- Get multiple independent quotes if pressured into a financing agreement during an installer visit
- Report suspicious Facebook ads or group posts using the platform's reporting tool
- Ask friends or family in your area whether they have seen the same ad, since a genuine scam often runs identical posts across many local groups
How to report it
- Report the ad or post to Facebook using the built-in reporting tool for scams or misleading claims
- Report the incident to your national consumer protection or trading standards agency
- Report to your national energy regulator or the government department responsible for the real grant scheme being impersonated
- If payment was made, contact your bank or card provider to dispute the charge
Frequently asked questions
Do real government heat pump grants ever charge an application fee?
No, legitimate government energy efficiency grants do not charge homeowners a fee simply to apply or reserve a slot; funding is verified and disbursed through official application channels.
How can I verify a heat pump grant scheme is real?
Go directly to your national government's official energy department website and search for the scheme by name rather than trusting a link in a Facebook ad or group post.