More than four-fifths of Britons have received a scam text, email or phone call so far this year, with 71% saying such scams are harder to spot due to AI. Research by Smart Energy GB found that people received an average of 19 scam messages in this period.
Scammers target energy bill concerns
Scammers are exploiting concerns around energy bills, with 16% of people saying they have already received a scam message or call claiming they must take action to receive government help. Specific messages have focused on the Winter Fuel Payment and the Warm Home Discount.
Of those who responded, more than a third said they had lost money as a result. The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount on the electricity bills of eligible households.
How the Warm Home Discount works
Most eligible households receive the discount automatically, although some in Scotland may still need to apply through their energy supplier. Unexpected messages asking people to click a link, pay a fee or provide personal or bank details to claim the discount should therefore be treated with caution.
The study found scammers are also exploiting the names of other trusted organisations. Nearly a third of people said they had been targeted by someone claiming to represent a bank, financial institution or by someone posing as HMRC. A fifth said they had been targeted by someone impersonating an energy or utility company. Two-fifths of people think they have received more scam messages in 2026 than they did at this time last year.
Dom Littlewood's advice to avoid scams
Consumer champion Dom Littlewood has joined forces with Smart Energy GB to help households stay safe. He said: "Scams are getting more convincing every day, especially now AI can be used to create very realistic calls and messages.
"The best defence is to always pause before you reply. Don't click links, contact details or phone numbers included in a suspicious message.
"If you get a message about the Warm Home Discount, or anything else that demands urgency, go directly to GOV.UK or the organisation's official website to check out the information. If you are still uncertain, show the message to a family member, friend or neighbour as they may spot a warning sign you have missed."
For people with non-smart prepayment meters, the Warm Home Discount may be provided through a voucher that you'll need to redeem manually. If you have a smart prepay meter, support can be credited directly to the meter - which helps avoid the inconvenience of redeeming vouchers. Littlewood added: "You can also top up your credit from the comfort of your home."
The scheme runs from the end of October to March and the discount may be applied at any time in this period.
Littlewood's advice includes pausing to protect information, checking independently using official details, not trusting appearances alone due to AI, understanding how energy support schemes work, upgrading to a smart prepay meter, and reporting scam messages to 7726 (SPAM) or contacting the bank immediately if money has been lost. People in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can report fraud through Report Fraud, while people in Scotland should contact Police Scotland on 101.
