January 13, 2014
Energy Minister Mark McArdle is warning residents to beware of a new phone scam that has surfaced in Queensland.
He said residents had received calls from scammers claiming to be from the State Government’s “renewable energy team”.
The scammers lure people with the offer of a $2000 solar rebate and request the homeowner’s bank details.
“This is a scam. The Queensland Government makes no direct payments to residents under the solar rebate scheme,” Mr McArdle said.
“The best way to beat the scammers is for people to not be drawn into a conversation and immediately hang up if they receive a phone call like this.
“They should also report the call to the Office of Fair Trading on its hotline number: 13-74-68.
“The old adage that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is, certainly applies in this case.
“Payments would only be made to a consumer by an electricity retailer – not the government – if electricity is generated above and beyond a household’s electricity use.
“Never give your bank details to anyone you don’t know and trust.”
Details on the State Government’s Solar Bonus scheme are available online
