$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
smart meter upgrade scam
Scammers contact homeowners claiming they need to pay for a mandatory smart meter upgrade or risk losing service, when in reality utility-provided meter upgrades are free.
“utility scam”
↑ 649%Key indicators
Usually targetsHomeowners
Often hitsReal estate professionals and homebuyers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers call or email homeowners claiming the utility is requiring a paid smart meter upgrade by a specific deadline
2
They collect payment for the fake upgrade and may also request personal information to set up the new meter account
3
In some variants, scammers visit homes and install rogue devices to intercept energy usage data or commit electricity theft
What to do first
Contact your utility directly to ask about any meter upgrade programs — legitimate upgrades are provided and installed at no cost
Related terms
meter replacement fee scamsmart grid scamdigital meter fraudUtility scamsPhoneSurgingHomeownersOlder adultsReal estate professionals and homebuyersRetirees and seniorsImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliameter replacement fee scamsmart grid scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Daniel, 42, a homeowners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate utility scams situation while using Phone. Scammers call or email homeowners claiming the utility is requiring a paid smart meter upgrade by a specific deadline
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They collect payment for the fake upgrade and may also request personal information to set up the new meter account
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: In some variants, scammers visit homes and install rogue devices to intercept energy usage data or commit electricity theft
The outcome
Daniel realized something was wrong when caller claims you must pay upfront for a meter upgrade that your utility provides at no cost. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Contact your utility directly to ask about any meter upgrade programs — legitimate upgrades are provided and installed at no cost Daniel's experience shows why caller claims you must pay upfront for a meter upgrade that your utility provides at no cost and urgency to schedule installation within 24-48 hours or face penalties are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Caller claims you must pay upfront for a meter upgrade that your utility provides at no cost
- Urgency to schedule installation within 24-48 hours or face penalties
- Request for remote access to your home network to configure the new meter
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Contact your utility directly to ask about any meter upgrade programs — legitimate upgrades are provided and installed at no cost
- ✓Never pay for meter installations over the phone or to door-to-door solicitors
- ✓Report the scam to your utility company and the FTC
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Energy regulators in the US and UK have issued repeated warnings about smart meter scams as rollout programs expand nationally
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Contact your utility directly to ask about any meter upgrade programs — legitimate upgrades are provided and installed at no cost
- ✓Never pay for meter installations over the phone or to door-to-door solicitors
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Energy regulators in the US and UK have issued repeated warnings about smart meter scams as rollout programs expand nationally
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Homeowners, Older adults
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
Phone — Utility scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Homeowners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Energy regulators in the US and UK have issued repeated warnings about smart meter scams as rollout programs expand nationally
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about smart meter upgrade scam
How does the smart meter upgrade scam work?+
Scammers call or email homeowners claiming the utility is requiring a paid smart meter upgrade by a specific deadline They collect payment for the fake upgrade and may also request personal information to set up the new meter account In some variants, scammers visit homes and install rogue devices to intercept energy usage data or commit electricity theft
What are the warning signs of smart meter upgrade scam?+
Caller claims you must pay upfront for a meter upgrade that your utility provides at no cost Urgency to schedule installation within 24-48 hours or face penalties Request for remote access to your home network to configure the new meter
What should I do if I encounter smart meter upgrade scam?+
Contact your utility directly to ask about any meter upgrade programs — legitimate upgrades are provided and installed at no cost Never pay for meter installations over the phone or to door-to-door solicitors Report the scam to your utility company and the FTC
Who is most at risk for smart meter upgrade scam?+
This scam primarily targets Homeowners, Older adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on Phone.
Is smart meter upgrade scam getting worse?+
smart meter upgrade scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.