Fake Solar and Green Energy Scheme Scams via Phone Calls
How cold callers sell solar panel installations, heat pumps, or green energy investments under the pretence of government grants or exceptional returns that do not materialise.
Part of: Fake Solar Panel and Green Energy Scheme Scam
Last reviewed: 9 June 2026
Solar panel and green energy investment scams by phone combine the appeal of environmental benefit with financial gain — a combination that is particularly persuasive. Callers present solar installations or green energy investment products as eligible for government grants, feed-in tariff payments, or investment returns that will pay back the installation cost rapidly. In some cases, no installation is performed; in others, a low-quality installation is completed by an unqualified contractor, causing structural or electrical damage.
Phone-based green energy scams often target homeowners who have already expressed interest in renewables, either through prior research, sign-ups on comparison sites, or simply through demographic targeting. The caller's ability to address questions and overcome objections in real time makes them more effective than email campaigns for high-value installations.
How this scam works on phone calls
The caller presents a solar panel or heat pump installation as qualifying for a government grant or as offering returns through the Smart Export Guarantee (UK) that effectively make the installation cost-free within a few years. A survey appointment is booked — sometimes at no charge, sometimes for a fee. The surveyor (who may be a salesperson with minimal technical knowledge) produces a compelling projected payback calculation.
In fraudulent operations, the installation either does not occur after deposit payment, or is performed by unqualified installers using substandard equipment. The promised grant does not materialise because the installation does not meet the required technical standards. The company may also enrol the homeowner in a lease arrangement that encumbers the property without clear disclosure.
Common red flags
- Cold call offering solar panels or heat pumps with a guaranteed payback period significantly shorter than industry norms
- Government grant claimed that, upon verification, does not apply to the specific product being sold
- Full payment or large deposit required before installation is scheduled
- Installer is not registered with MCS (UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme) or equivalent
- Investment product sold alongside installation promising guaranteed annual returns
- Lease arrangement in contract buried in small print that binds future property owners
How to protect yourself
- Verify any claimed government grant through official government sources before committing to an installation
- Only use MCS-certified installers for solar, heat pump, or wind turbine installations
- Get at least two written quotes from certified installers found through the MCS directory
- Insist on a full written contract with all terms clearly stated before paying any deposit
- Pay by credit card where possible, never cash or bank transfer
How to report it
- Report to Trading Standards (UK) if the installation did not meet claimed standards
- Report to Action Fraud (UK) if money was taken for work not performed
- Report to the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) for disputes with RECC-registered installers
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a solar installer is MCS certified?
Search the MCS installer database at mcscertified.com. MCS certification is required for installations to qualify for government-backed schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee. Any installer who cannot provide their MCS number should not be used.
Are solar investment products regulated?
In the UK, investment products based on solar returns may be regulated by the FCA. Check any investment product against the FCA register. Unregulated investment products promising guaranteed returns are almost always fraudulent.