As energy bills rise and winter approaches, scammers are pushing plug-in devices that claim to cut household electricity costs by a third. These so-called 'energy-saving plugs' or 'eco-plugs' are sold via social media or cold calls, but experts warn they are either useless or dangerous.
Siobhan Blagbrough, financial crime manager at Ocean Finance, says the scams involve plug-in devices, magnetic meters, or 'voltage regulators' that promise savings of 30% or more. 'The marketing is slick, often coming with fake Trustpilot reviews or phoney expert endorsements, but the devices either do nothing or can actually be unsafe,' she explains.
Victims may hand over hundreds of pounds for a gadget that never arrives, or receive a cheap, unsafe electrical item that can overheat or cause fires. In worst cases, criminals use the purchase process to harvest card details for further fraud. The devices are sold for less than £10 but often fail basic UK safety standards, with poor-quality soldering, excessive lead content, and pins that are too short or snap off easily.
Consumer group Which? reported multiple listings earlier this year that were removed, but almost identical devices reappeared weeks later. Blagbrough advises: 'If a device really could cut energy bills by hundreds of pounds, it would be sold by major retailers and recommended by trusted consumer groups. The fact that it’s being flogged on social media or through cold calls is the red flag.'
To reduce energy costs safely, experts recommend proven measures like insulation, boiler tweaks, or smart thermostats. Report misleading ads to the platform and local trading standards.
