Warning about scam texts in lead-up to home battery rebate scheme
- Replies 0
WA residents have reported receiving text messages purporting to be from energy systems company Solar Gain, urging them to register for a battery rebate scheme and directing them to a form that records their name and contact information.
The scheme, announced as a pre-election commitment by Premier Roger Cook, will provide one-off rebates of up to $5,000 for Synergy customers and up to $7,500 for Horizon Power customers in regional WA to purchase a home battery.
The scheme is set to open to applicants on 1 July.
Interested people can register with the state government for updates on how to apply but cannot formally register, and the government has said it will not backdate rebates.
This week, numerous customers reported receiving this text message:
The message included a link to a website which featured the state government logo and asked people to fill in their personal information.
Solargain said it did not send the message, and its information technology department was investigating.
"Unfortunately, it happens all the time — as soon as there is money to be made anywhere, scammers will come out of the woodwork and create fake websites," Ms Blake said.
"But I also would say that it's not just scammers.
"There are unscrupulous dealers as well, or traders that will also try to take advantage and try and sign up as many people as they possibly can."
Ms Blake said the urgency of the language in the message indicated it was not legitimate.
"We know if it's saying 'register now, don't miss out', that's a complete red flag for me because that's what scammers do," she said.
"They give you that sense of urgency that you might miss out, so you have to jump on now.
"So we stop thinking, and we just act."
Ms Blake said the use of the state government logo on the website linked to the texts was particularly serious and could be prosecuted as misleading.
"I'm going to get the team at Consumer Protection to investigate this more," she said.
"If we can establish that it is a fake website and a scam website, then the team will do what they can to have that website taken down."
Ms Blake said when the scheme launched, there would be an approved list of products and suppliers and only those on the list would be eligible for rebates.
"We're really cautioning consumers not to sign up to anything now because it's quite possible that the trader you sign up with, the business you sign up with, or the product you sign up for may not be on the approved list," she said.
"And those grants are not going to be retrospective."
The scheme, announced as a pre-election commitment by Premier Roger Cook, will provide one-off rebates of up to $5,000 for Synergy customers and up to $7,500 for Horizon Power customers in regional WA to purchase a home battery.
The scheme is set to open to applicants on 1 July.
Interested people can register with the state government for updates on how to apply but cannot formally register, and the government has said it will not backdate rebates.
Trish Blake says government funding schemes often attract accompanying scams. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
This week, numerous customers reported receiving this text message:
The message included a link to a website which featured the state government logo and asked people to fill in their personal information.
Solargain said it did not send the message, and its information technology department was investigating.
Warning over SMS scams
Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake told Nadia Mitsopoulos on ABC Radio Perth it was a timely reminder not to trust unsolicited text messages."Unfortunately, it happens all the time — as soon as there is money to be made anywhere, scammers will come out of the woodwork and create fake websites," Ms Blake said.
"But I also would say that it's not just scammers.
"There are unscrupulous dealers as well, or traders that will also try to take advantage and try and sign up as many people as they possibly can."
Ms Blake said the urgency of the language in the message indicated it was not legitimate.
"We know if it's saying 'register now, don't miss out', that's a complete red flag for me because that's what scammers do," she said.
"They give you that sense of urgency that you might miss out, so you have to jump on now.
"So we stop thinking, and we just act."
Only selected providers
There is a legitimate form on the WA government website where consumers can register an expression of interest to learn more about the scheme as it rolls out.Ms Blake said the use of the state government logo on the website linked to the texts was particularly serious and could be prosecuted as misleading.
"I'm going to get the team at Consumer Protection to investigate this more," she said.
"If we can establish that it is a fake website and a scam website, then the team will do what they can to have that website taken down."
Ms Blake said when the scheme launched, there would be an approved list of products and suppliers and only those on the list would be eligible for rebates.
"We're really cautioning consumers not to sign up to anything now because it's quite possible that the trader you sign up with, the business you sign up with, or the product you sign up for may not be on the approved list," she said.
"And those grants are not going to be retrospective."
