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Energy companies have uncovered a doorstep scam which seems to offer cheaper electricity meter top-ups but just ends up with consumers paying twice. In response, energy companies together with Consumer Focus have created a national campaign, “Top up Safe”, urging electricity prepayment meter customers to buy top-up only through official channels. Over 120,000 households have been affected already. Customers of all of the leading energy companies (British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE) are affected.
Criminals are using cloned keys to top up credit illegally. Some people are being offered £50 of electricity meter top-up for a cash payment of just £25. But energy companies can always detect when they have not received payment for electricity used and any customer buying top-up from a criminal will end up paying twice, first to the criminal and then to their energy supplier. Only the criminal will benefit.
A national industry communications campaign launched in 2010 with a prominent warning message on the receipts issued when customer buy electricity top-up from official outlets – PayPoint, Payzone and The Post Office. Companies never sell electricity top-up door-to-door. Energy companies are telephoning and writing to their customers to alert them to the dangers. There is evidence of serious and organised criminal activity and they are urging customers not to get involved. Police have also made arrests in connection with this activity.
