Solar Panel Scams on Nextdoor
Fraudulent solar installers post in Nextdoor neighbourhood feeds as satisfied local customers or community recommendations, leveraging the platform's trusted local reputation to solicit deposits for substandard or non-existent installations.
Part of: Solar Panel Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Nextdoor carries an inherent trust advantage for scammers because users believe they are communicating with verified neighbours. A solar-related post on Nextdoor that appears to come from a satisfied local customer — complete with neighbourhood-specific references — can be far more persuasive than a generic online advertisement.
Scammers create or compromise genuine Nextdoor accounts to post first-person recommendations for their fraudulent solar company, creating a manufactured word-of-mouth effect that is difficult for non-sceptical readers to discount.
How this scam works on Nextdoor
A Nextdoor post from an apparent local resident describes their recent solar installation in glowing terms, mentions specific local government incentive programmes, and provides a referral contact or link for interested neighbours. The post may reference local landmarks or recent area news to appear authentic.
Neighbours who contact the referred company are presented with a compelling offer and requested to pay a deposit quickly to secure the 'same rate' as the posting neighbour. The installation either never happens, uses low-quality panels installed incorrectly, or uses substandard electrical work that poses a safety risk.
In some cases, the Nextdoor account used to post the recommendation belongs to a genuine resident whose account credentials were phished, adding further credibility to the false referral.
Common red flags
- Post references specific government incentives but links to a private company rather than an official programme page
- Recommending account has minimal prior Nextdoor activity and was recently created or reactivated
- Company cannot provide verifiable references from previous local installations
- Salesperson is reluctant to provide a written contract and itemised specification
- Deposit amount is large and payment is requested by bank transfer before any contract is signed
- Installer cannot provide proof of appropriate electrical and roofing certification for your jurisdiction
How to protect yourself
- Contact the Nextdoor user who posted the recommendation directly and privately to verify it is genuine before acting on it
- Request references from at least two recent local installations and visit or call those customers independently
- Verify the installer's accreditation on your national renewable energy installer register before signing any contract
- Do not pay any deposit without a signed installation contract, full specification, and confirmation of the installer's insurance
- Report suspicious Nextdoor posts to the neighbourhood administrator if you believe an account has been compromised
How to report it
- Report the post to Nextdoor using the 'Report' function for misleading or fraudulent content
- Notify your local trading standards office or consumer protection body if you lost money
- Alert local police if a deposit was paid and the company has become uncontactable
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a Nextdoor recommendation is from a real neighbour or a compromised account?
Message the poster privately and ask specific, verifiable questions about their installation experience — genuine neighbours can answer easily, while compromised or fake accounts often respond vaguely or not at all. You can also check the account's post history for prior genuine neighbourhood activity.
The company references local landmarks and recent news — does that prove they're a legitimate local business?
No — mentioning local details is an easy way to fake authenticity and doesn't require any genuine local presence. Verify the company's registration and accreditation independently rather than trusting local references alone.
What's the safest way to pay a deposit for a solar installation I found through Nextdoor?
Use a credit card rather than a bank transfer so you retain chargeback rights, and only pay after receiving a signed contract with a full itemised specification, not before. Never pay a large deposit in cash or via a bank transfer to a personal account.
Are Nextdoor solar recommendations always trustworthy?
Nextdoor verifies that users live in a neighbourhood but does not vet the accuracy of recommendations. Accounts can be compromised or used to post false testimonials. Any business recommendation on Nextdoor should be independently verified through the company's official registration and regulatory accreditation before you hand over money.