Enedis warns of rising fake energy sales calls across France
Fraudsters posing as Enedis or its partners are targeting households, prompting daily scam reports to the electricity network operator
Fraudsters frequently exploit people’s confusion about the role of Enedis, which manages France's electricity distribution network
Henry Saint John/Shutterstock
Households are being urged to stay vigilant after France’s electricity network operator Enedis reported a new surge in energy sales scams nationwide.
Enedis says it is receiving numerous reports each day from customers contacted by fraudsters claiming to represent Enedis or one of its partners.
The fraudsters reportedly use calls, emails or text messages to try to sell energy-related products or to extract personal or banking information.
The company stresses that it does not engage in any commercial canvassing, does not sell products or services, and never contacts customers by phone or email to request bank details or other sensitive personal information.
“Enedis urges its customers not to disclose any information if they are unsure who they are dealing with,” it said in a statement.
Confusion over roles
Fraudsters frequently exploit people’s confusion about the role of Enedis, which manages the electricity distribution network, and energy suppliers, which sell electricity contracts.
Enedis is a regulated public service operator and does not compete in the retail energy market.
Its role is strictly limited to public service missions such as connecting properties to the electricity network, restoring power during outages, commissioning electrical installations, and replacing old-generation meters with Linky smart meters.
Any intervention that requires access to a private home is always preceded by a scheduled appointment or, failing that, a written notice of visit.
The sole exception is an emergency intervention to make an installation safe where there is an immediate electrical risk.
Recent cases reported have shown how convincing some scams can be.
In several departments, fraudsters posing as Enedis agents have targeted elderly residents, claiming there was a problem with a Linky meter or that the household was due a refund.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by a scam, or who witnesses fraudulent canvassing, is asked to inform Enedis customer services on 09 70 83 19 70 (non-premium number).
Consumers who wish to reduce unsolicited sales calls can also register on the official telephone opt-out list Bloctel. Suspected spam calls or SMS messages can be reported to the free national platform 33 700.
Reports may also be submitted to the fraud and consumer protection authority, the DGCCRF, either via local offices or online through the official SignalConso platform.
