Fake rooftop solar subsidy registration site or agent charging a fee
A website, message or agent claims to register you for the government rooftop solar subsidy and charges a fee to register you or "release" the subsidy. The real scheme is applied for on its official national portal.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- A WhatsApp message, ad or website with government logos says you can get rooftop solar or a large subsidy under a government scheme, and asks you to register through its link.
- The site or an "agent" asks for a registration, processing or "subsidy reservation" fee, and sometimes for your electricity bill, Aadhaar and bank details.
- After you pay, more fees follow for "approval" or "inspection", and no application is made in your name, or your bank details are misused.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Government solar scheme: get free electricity every month! Registration closing soon. Pay Rs 1,250 registration fee to book your subsidy: solar-subsidy-apply[.]in
Sir, your solar subsidy of Rs 78,000 is approved. Only the inspection charge of Rs 4,500 is pending. Pay on this UPI and our engineer will visit tomorrow.
Red flags
- Fee to "register" or "reserve" your subsidy
- Registration website you did not find yourself
- Subsidy "approved" before anyone has seen your roof
- Payment to a personal UPI ID
The one question to ask
Did you apply yourself on the official portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in, rather than through a link or an agent asking for a fee?
Already paid or shared details?
Call 1930 at once: in the first hour the money can often still be frozen before it moves on. Then call your bank on the number printed on your card, and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in with screenshots of every message and payment.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Fake solar pump scheme for farmers with a registration fee
- Installer who takes full payment upfront, then disappears