British Gas customers sent urgent warning as they report the same thing

Millions of British Gas customers have been urged to be wary about suspicious calls and texts following a rise in reports of scams targeting them. Fraudsters are said to be posing as British Gas representatives amid high energy costs, seeking to fool them by promising savings and discounts on bills.

Anyone who gets calls or messages out of the blue is urged to be cautious and never to give out personal information. The warning has come from Phonely, which tracks scam calls and aims to raise awareness of the risks.

Scammers know British Gas has millions of customers, meaning it's likely someone they target could get their energy from their company and potentially be easily roped in to believing they are legitimate. Phonely said: "Reports have highlighted a significant rise in phone scams impersonating British Gas.

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"As the financial strain of higher energy costs deepens, scammers are preying on the elderly and low-income households. Posing as British Gas representatives, these fraudsters aim to extract personal information and banking details by offering false promises of savings or assistance with bills.

"The Phonely Who Called Me? platform has been inundated with alarming reports from users. One shared: “A man claimed to be from British Gas, asking to book an appointment to check if I can save on my bills. I smelled a scam, so I hung up. When I called back, the message didn’t say ‘Welcome to British Gas’ but ‘You’ve been called by Best Quotes Today.’”

"Another user reported: “Constantly calling me, sometimes up to four times a day until I blocked them. They said they were from British Gas and could I confirm my address. When I questioned them, they hung up and called again two hours later."

Phonely added: "These fraudulent calls often pressure victims into sharing sensitive information under the guise of booking appointments or discussing energy-saving options. In some cases, scammers request banking details to complete 'switching' processes, exploiting the financial vulnerability of individuals looking for relief during the cost of living crisis."