To be appalled by this blatant scam

28 replies

Rosscameasdoody · 16/05/2022 15:37

Posting on AIBU to ensure this reaches as many people as possible. I received an email this morning supposedly from Ofgem. The email looked authentic, had the Ofgem logo and professional looking content - none of the usual giveaways such as bad spelling and grammar. It was advising that the consultation on how to deliver the government energy rebate had ended on 11 April and that the email was my invitation to apply for the rebate - ‘click the link below to begin the application’.

I’m pretty sure we’re all aware that the energy companies will be responsible for applying the rebate to energy accounts but I just wanted to make people aware of this scam because it’s frighteningly realistic - so much so that I actually checked with my energy company to make sure there hadn’t been a change. Just another disgusting attempt by unscrupulous thieves to con vulnerable people out of their money.

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Rosscameasdoody · 19/05/2022 15:15

viques · 18/05/2022 11:25

I think the government is well aware which pensioners get pension top up credit, and which don’t. Which families get disability allowances for themselves or their children. Who gets higher rate mobility allowances. Who gets tax credits, who is on UC. If the emphasis was on supporting those people then that would be a better use of the money, though it does et alter the fact that saddling the poorest in the country with a loan debt that they never asked for is a weird idea ,make it a grant. It would save the cost of the untenable situation of trying to claim it back .

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I agree. The government is aware of the target groups who are the most likely to be struggling - they target them all the time for cuts. For example, there was a proposal to include people in receipt of certain disability benefits in the warm home discount scheme for the first time. When the fuel prices went through the roof, this was quickly dropped. So much for wanting to help those most in need - so what if you can’t afford to charge your electric wheelchair or other equipment essential for coping with disability.

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Rosscameasdoody · 19/05/2022 15:37

CrocodilesCry · 16/05/2022 22:51

You're still wrong, sorry.

The £150 rebate is being paid by councils. It's a rebate. It is not a loan and you don't have to pay it back. It's paid by councils but is for your energy bills, it's not a rebate on your council tax itself. You're mixing this up with the £200 loan/discount.

The £200 loan/discount has to be repaid over five years at £40 per year. This is not the same as the £150 rebate.

I’m aware of the difference - sorry just worded it clumsily, but the scam email wasn’t about the rebate given by councils, it was about the £200 via the energy companies. The point I was making was that it’s not something that people need to apply for, it will be applied automatically later this year. The scam lies in asking people to apply, as a means to obtain their bank account details.

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Rosscameasdoody · 19/05/2022 15:47

TheOrigRights · 17/05/2022 22:34

I’m pretty sure we’re all aware that the energy companies will be responsible for applying the rebate to energy accounts but I just wanted to make people aware of this scam

This part of your post sticks out. The fact that you are not aware of how the rebate is being paid (but believe you are) shows how easy it is for people to believe what they think is correct.

Essentially we all have to be constantly questioning ourselves and checking we've got our facts straight.

I have received my rebate and my bank statement clearly states it's from the council who I pay my council tax to.

Yes, the council to whom you pay your council tax provided you with a £150 rebate. And later this year your energy company will be applying the £200 discount, loan, rebate - or whatever else you want to call it - to your energy bill. You will then repay this at £40 per year over five years. So which part am I not aware of and what fact have I not got straight. My post was not about the £150 paid by the councils, it was about the £200 paid later this year by the energy companies.

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