Medium riskUtility & Energy

Boiler Grant Scam

In this scam, calls, ads, or doorstep visits offer free boilers, insulation, or energy grants, then harvest your personal and bank details, charge bogus assessment fees, or push costly, unnecessary work.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Grant impersonation (energy)
Main red flag
An unsolicited 'free boiler' or energy grant offer needing your details or a fee.
What to do first
Check eligibility only through official government or supplier schemes.

How this scam works

In this scam, calls, ads, or doorstep visits offer free boilers, insulation, or energy grants, then harvest your personal and bank details, charge bogus assessment fees, or push costly, unnecessary work.

Utility and energy scams impersonate your provider with disconnection threats, fake refunds, bogus grants, and doorstep "inspectors". They pressure fast payment, often by gift card or transfer, that a real utility would never demand.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An unsolicited 'free boiler' or energy grant offer needing your details or a fee. Check eligibility only through official government or supplier schemes.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Solar Panel Scam and the Energy Supplier Switch Scam. See the full Utility & Energy Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • An unsolicited free boiler, insulation, or grant offer
  • Requests for personal and bank details
  • An assessment or booking fee
  • Pressure to act before the grant 'closes'
  • A provider you cannot verify

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'You qualify for a free government boiler grant! Confirm your details and book your assessment today.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: An unsolicited 'free boiler' or energy grant offer needing your details or a fee.

The scale of it

$2.7B
reported lost to imposter scams in the US in 2023, including utility impersonation
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Gift cards
a demand real utilities never make, but scammers frequently do
Source: FTC Consumer Advice

How to protect yourself

  • Check eligibility through official government or supplier schemes
  • Verify any installer and grant independently
  • Never pay fees or share bank details to 'qualify'
  • Report bogus grant offers

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider to dispute it
  • If you shared details, monitor for misuse
  • Verify any genuine scheme through official sources
  • Report the offer and keep evidence

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not share bank details to claim a grant
  • Do not pay assessment fees on unsolicited offers
  • Do not let 'grant closing' pressure rush you

Related scams to know

Medium risk Online Shopping

Solar Panel Scam

In this scam, solar panel or home energy sellers use door-to-door or online pitches with inflated savings claims, fake grants, and high pressure, taking deposits for systems that underperform or are never installed.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Utility & Energy

Energy Supplier Switch Scam

In this scam, doorstep or phone sellers pose as energy 'switching' agents or your supplier, pressuring you to sign up to a fake or worse deal, or to hand over bank and account details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Government & Tax

Government Grant Scam

This scam uses a message, call, or social media post claiming you qualify for a free government grant, then asks for a processing fee or your bank details to 'release' money that does not actually exist.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Are free boiler grants real?
Genuine energy-efficiency schemes exist, applied for through official government or supplier channels. Unsolicited offers needing details or fees are warning signs.
How do I check eligibility?
Use official government scheme websites or your supplier directly, and verify any installer independently before sharing details.
I paid or shared details. What now?
Dispute any payment with your bank, monitor for misuse, verify genuine schemes through official sources, and report the offer.
Why ask for my bank details for a grant?
Genuine grants do not need your bank details via an unsolicited call or visit. Such requests are used for fraud.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.