Britons are being warned of a stark rise in scammers impersonating energy giant British Gas to steal personal information and banking details on the pretence of offering savings or assistance with bills.
The Phonely Who Called Me? platform, which tracks thousands of suspicious calls daily, has reported an “inundation” of alarming reports from people being preyed on.
One person said: “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 the fraudsters to be “constantly calling, sometimes up to four times a day until blocked.”
They added: “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.”
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.
Statistics from the Who Called Me? page show that scams impersonating British Gas and other energy service providers, including those related to energy savings like loft insulation scams, are currently the most frequently reported.
Sharing a few tips for people to take to stay safe Phonely first urged people to make sure they verify who is calling.
It explained: “If you receive an unexpected call claiming to be from British Gas or any utility provider, hang up and contact the company directly using the official number from their website.”
Secondly, do not share personal details. It said: “Avoid providing personal or financial information over the phone, especially when the call is unsolicited.”
Finally, report suspicious calls. Phonely said: “Report fraudulent calls to Action Fraud and use platforms such as Phonely’s Who Called Me? to report and check numbers that appear suspicious.”
