Another solar panel scam - refund for your inverter

Freeheeler

I had a phone call this morning from someone who seemed to know a lot about my solar panels, installed over 10 years ago.  They suggested they could organise a refund for me for the cost of the inverter. What? When I said I wasn't interested, they put the phone down.
I've been in touch with OFGEM who (very quickly) reassured me that while they hold a database of all installations, this information is not in the public domain. But that leaves the question - where did the caller get what sounded like accurate details?  
Please warn anyone you know who might fall for this.

Robin9

Perhaps he worked for the installer ?

QrizB

Freeheeler said:

I've been in touch with OFGEM who (very quickly) reassured me that while they hold a database of all installations, this information is not in the public domain. But that leaves the question - where did the caller get what sounded like accurate details?

I'm certain - because I once found it - that there's a public list (database or spreadsheet) of all the FIT-receiving PV systems. This doesn't include exact addresses but does include postcodes.

It's relatively straightforward to take that list and compare to eg. Google maps to identify which properties have solar PV on the roof.

That plus one of the public databases of landline phone numbers will give them a decent hit rate on older PV systems.

Freeheeler

Thanks QrizB. That does make sense, confirms my suspicions about a database, and yep we do have a landline  (lousy mobile reception, joys of country living).  I suspect landline users are going to be older and therefore more vulnerable to scams.