Being aware of potential threats is the first step in protecting yourself against fraud. Here are our tips and advice on how to keep safe
Latest news on scams 28/09/2022
We're aware of various scams relating to the Government Energy Bill Support Scheme (£400 discount) and the Government Energy Price Guarantee.
The images below are examples of fake text messages you may receive, falsely claiming to be from GOV.UK
It's likely that email scams along the same lines will also be circulating. If you receive one of these do not click any of the links. You should report the email or message as per the guidance on the following page: Report internet scams and phishing - GOV.UK. This page also contains guidance if you believe you have been a victim of fraud as a result of this scam. Once reported, you should delete the email or message.
You don't need to apply for the Government Energy Bill Support Scheme or the Government Energy Price Guarantee, and you wont be asked for your bank details at any point.
The table below outlines how you will receive the £400 discount depending on how you pay for your energy bills. All energy suppliers will follow the same process for issuing the rebate to customers:
| Your payment method | How you'll receive the discount |
|---|---|
| Budget Direct Debit (Monthly) | An automatic refund each month to the bank account your Direct Debit payments are taken from |
| Cash/Cheque or Direct Debit Whole Amount | An automatic credit to your energy account in the first week of each month |
| Pay As You Go | An automatic credit to your smart Pay As You Go meter within the first two weeks of each month |
| Prepayment | A voucher from the Post Office® within the first two weeks of each month to redeem when you top-up |
Read more about the Government Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Support Scheme.
Helping to protect our customers
EDF takes fraud and crime seriously. We’ve put together this information to help protect yourself from criminals who falsely claim to be from EDF to trick you into making a payment or providing personal information.
Reporting fraud
If you've been a victim of fraud or a phishing scam email then report it to Action Fraud.
Help and advice on how to know it's EDF contacting you
Text messages and WhatsApp
We may send you reminders about meter readings or payments by text message or WhatsApp. These messages will be sent from one of the numbers listed here.
We also allow our customers to start a conversation with us via text message or WhatsApp. Any correspondence via WhatsApp will always show our logo verified with a green tick, just like the image below.
Worried about phishing scam emails?
Phishing is a method that fraudsters use to obtain personal information from you, with the intention of using it for illegal purposes. Phishing emails are designed to look like they're from a legitimate source in order to convince you to hand over personal information or make a payment. To improve your online security and avoid falling foul of phishing scams, we've put some information on how to recogise them and what action you can take.
Make sure the sender is trustworthy
Be suspicious of emails from unknown senders, and remember they could pose as someone from a trusted company to make it more likely that you’ll respond to their request.
EDF like most companies will use their own email domain (e.g.'@edfenergy.com). Large companies will not contact you from free email services like '@googlemail' or '@hotmail.com'. Pay close attention to misspellings in the sender's email address (e.g.@edfeneryy.com). These are designed to trick you into believing they are from the real company.
Check the greeting
Generic greetings such as 'Dear Customer' or 'Dear <@ your email address>' are a strong indication of phishing attempts. However, be aware that specific greetings don’t mean the email is safe. Attackers can find out your name or other personal information in order to create a more convincing lure, known as spear phishing.
Check the subject line
If the subject line seems unusual, requests information, offers a reward or threatens consequences, this is probably an attempted phishing scam email or spam. Ignore it unless you’re certain you know who it’s from.
Examine the message
If there are any spelling mistakes, typos or poor grammar, it's likely to be a phishing email.
Don't open attachments until you know it's genuine
Be wary of instructions to open an attachment or link within the email. Only open these if you’re sure the sender and email are genuine.
Four tips to stay safe
- Check the sender's email address
- Never give out personal information
- Report the phishing scam to the organisation it's supposedly from and to Action Fraud via their email address report@phishing.gov.uk
- Don’t open attachments or click on any links from unknown sources
Visits to your home
People working on our behalf will visit your property from time to time to read, check, fix your meter or collect outstanding payments. Meters are read on our behalf by Morrison Data Services (MDS). To verify the identity of a meter reader, please call 0191 201 3791. For all other visitors claiming to be from EDF call, please contact us(1).
We also have other partners who may visit you on our behalf. A password can be set up for you, which the visitor will have to provide before you let them in. Our smart meter installers will usually contact you before they arrive.