Medium riskUtility & Energy

Energy Refund Phishing Scam

In this scam, texts, emails, or calls claim your energy supplier owes you a refund or rebate, urging you to click a link and enter bank or card details to receive money, which are stolen instead.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Phishing (utility)
Main red flag
A message saying you are owed an energy refund via a link needing bank details.
What to do first
Do not click; log in to your energy account directly to check for any refund.

What this scam usually looks like

In this scam, texts, emails, or calls claim your energy supplier owes you a refund or rebate, urging you to click a link and enter bank or card details to receive money, which are stolen instead.

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.

The single clearest warning sign to remember is this: A message saying you are owed an energy refund via a link needing bank details. Do not click; log in to your energy account directly to check for any refund.

Not sure this matches what you received? Compare it with the Energy Disconnection Threat Scam or the Energy Supplier Switch Scam, browse the Utility & Energy Scams guides, or paste the exact message into our free scam checker.

By the numbers

$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

Example message pattern

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Your energy account is in credit. You are owed a refund. Click here and enter your bank details to claim your money now.'

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.

Why this is a red flag: A message saying you are owed an energy refund via a link needing bank details.

Red flags to watch for

  • An unexpected energy refund or rebate message
  • A link asking for bank or card details to be paid
  • Urgency to claim before a deadline
  • A sender or web address you cannot verify
  • Branding that mimics your supplier or a scheme

What to do

  • Log in to your energy account directly to check
  • Do not click links or enter bank details from the message
  • Contact your supplier on a known number to verify
  • Report energy refund phishing

If you already clicked or replied

  • Contact your bank if you entered card or bank details
  • Change passwords if you logged in via the link
  • Verify any genuine refund with your supplier
  • Keep records and report it

What not to do

  • Do not click links in refund or rebate messages
  • Do not enter bank details to 'receive' a refund
  • Do not act on urgency without verifying

Similar scams

High risk Utility & Energy

Energy Disconnection Threat Scam

In this scam, callers or texts pose as your energy provider, threatening to disconnect your power or gas within hours unless you pay an overdue bill immediately, usually by unusual methods like gift cards or transfer.

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
Medium risk Utility & Energy

Smart Meter Installation Scam

In this scam, callers or doorstep visitors claim you must pay for or urgently book a smart meter installation, charging bogus fees, seeking bank details, or gaining access to your home.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Frequently asked questions

Is this energy refund message genuine?
Check by logging in to your energy account directly. Genuine refunds do not require you to click a link and enter bank details from a message.
It said I am owed money. A trick?
Offering money you are 'owed' lowers your guard. If a real refund is due, your supplier processes it through your account, not a link.
I entered my bank details. What now?
Contact your bank, change any passwords used, verify any genuine refund with your supplier, keep records, and report it.
How are genuine refunds paid?
Through your existing account with the supplier, often automatically. You do not need to claim via a link or hand over bank details to a message.

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.