The solar power industry has become increasingly competitive and the popularity of home solar energy has seen many scammers pop up – some who go as far as to threaten to kill people who say they aren’t interested in buying a system.
According to Melbourne radio station 3AW, Melbourne residents have been terrorised by a party or parities claiming to be selling solar power systems. In one case, an elderly woman who said she wasn’t interested found a message on her answering machine telling her “they know where she lived and would come and get her.” Other victims have been threatened with being burned alive.
It’s possible that the parties involved are not selling solar power systems at all; but are merely sick pranksters or perpetrating a “phishing” scam attempting to extract bank account details and other sensitive information that could be used for identity fraud purposes.
National solar power solutions company Energy Matters recommends that people receiving “cold calls” who have not expressed an interest in solar panels previously, simply hang up on the person; make note of the time and details and contact the authorities if any threat is made.
Where a consumer has expressed interest in a solar power system with a particular company through an online solar power quote, email enquiry or otherwise, ensure the person calling identifies themselves with their full name and the company they represent. If in doubt as to the authenticity of the caller; terminate the conversation, contact the company using their official phone number (which can be gained from a company’s official web site or a telephone book) and ask for the sales person.
There are unfortunately many solar power related scams occurring; but these incidents reported by 3AW certainly rate at the extreme scale. Energy Matters’ web site offers further information on various tricks, traps and scams consumers may be faced with in the company’s consumer guide to solar power.
