TD warns of electricity credits scam

Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins has warned of a fraudulent phone scam.

The scam involves fraudsters soliciting bank details, encouraging people to avail of Government electricity credits.

Higgins issued a call for caution, urging the public not to divulge their bank account details.

“Constituents have alerted me to a convincing phone scam currently in operation,” Higgins said.

Victims of the scam report receiving text messages, seemingly from GOV.IE, claiming they are eligible for a discounted electricity bill under the Energy Support Scheme.

Recipients are prompted to follow a link to apply for the credit, leading them to an official government page under the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications.

The tip-off, it should be noted, asks people to follow a link to a website with a domain that ends in .com, when official Governemnt websites carry the domain .ie.

Higgins emphasised a critical point of distinction: individuals who received those credits during the aforementioned periods did not need to apply or contact their electricity provider, and the credits were automatically applied.

However, the latest scam employs a highly sophisticated approach; it prompts individuals to click on a “Verify Now” button, redirecting them to a page that solicits personal information, including address and telephone number.

Once the victims proceed, they are then coerced into providing their card details, encompassing the card number, expiry date, and CVV number. Subsequently, they are guided to log into their internet banking account, depending on the banking institution they’ve inputted.

As outlined in this year’s Budget, over 2.2 million households stand to benefit from a new round of Electricity Credits, totaling €450.

These credits, distributed in three payments of €150 (including VAT), will be dispersed between December 2023 and April 2024. Deputy Higgins clarified that similar to previous instances, the credits will be automatically applied. Households are not required to apply for them or contact their electricity supplier.

“Criminals are now using ever more sophisticated methods,” warned the Dublin Mid-West TD.

“If something feels unsafe or unofficial, do not provide bank account details to a third party. Err on the side of caution. If you suspect you have been the victim of fraudulent activity, immediately end the call and call the number on the back of your card or the official number for your branch.”