Solar Panel Scams on Facebook
Facebook ads and community pages promote fictitious government solar rebate programmes or substandard installations, collecting large deposits from homeowners who receive no panels or shoddy workmanship.
Part of: Solar Panel Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Government incentives for residential solar adoption have created fertile ground for Facebook-based solar fraud. Scammers run sponsored posts claiming to represent official government rebate or retrofit schemes, using official-sounding programme names and government colour schemes to make the offers look like public entitlements rather than commercial sales.
Because solar panels are a significant and genuinely subsidised investment in many jurisdictions, homeowners who have been considering the decision are particularly susceptible to an ad that appears to confirm their eligibility for a grant or discount they may have heard about through legitimate news coverage.
How this scam works on Facebook
A Facebook ad targets homeowners in a specific region with messaging such as 'Residents of [area] may qualify for government-funded solar installation — check eligibility'. Clicking the ad leads to a form collecting the homeowner's name, address, and estimated electricity bill, which is then used to generate a 'personalised eligibility certificate'.
A salesperson follows up by phone to confirm the programme and arrange a home survey. The survey is used to gather additional information about the property rather than to produce a genuine assessment, and a high-pressure close for a large upfront deposit follows. Some operations disappear after the deposit; others complete a substandard installation using low-quality panels, then pursue further payments for maintenance or warranty activation.
Facebook groups for local communities are also used to post organic-looking recommendations for solar companies that are controlled by the same fraudulent operator.
Common red flags
- Ad claims government-funded solar panels are available in your area but provides no programme name or official agency link
- Facebook page running the ad was created recently and has no verifiable company registration
- Eligibility form collects detailed personal information before providing any specifics of the programme
- Follow-up salesperson creates urgency around a closing window for government subsidies
- Deposit requested by bank transfer before any contract or installation specification is provided
- Quote contains no itemised specification of panel brand, wattage, warranty terms, or inverter model
How to protect yourself
- Verify any government solar incentive programme directly through your national energy regulator or government website before responding to an ad
- Use only licensed solar installers who can provide MCS certification (UK) or equivalent national accreditation
- Request a full written specification, contract, and company insurance certificate before paying any deposit
- Pay deposits by credit card rather than bank transfer to retain chargeback rights
- Check the company's registration number against your national business register before proceeding
How to report it
- Report the Facebook ad using the 'Report ad' feature, selecting 'Misleading' or 'Fraud or scam'
- File a complaint with your national consumer protection agency or trading standards body
- Report to your national energy regulator if the operator is falsely claiming to represent a government programme
Frequently asked questions
How do I find legitimate government solar incentive programmes?
Navigate directly to your government's official energy department website rather than following links in social media ads. In the US, check the Department of Energy website; in the UK, check the official gov.uk site. Legitimate programmes will not require you to make an upfront deposit through a Facebook ad.