The Day I Almost Gave Away My Personal Information
Last week, I received what appeared to be an urgent text message from Solargain about a WA battery grant. The solar battery scam nearly worked on me – the message looked legitimate, with professional wording and formatting. It urged me to quickly register for a limited WA government grant through a link. Thankfully, I paused before submitting my details.
The Follow-Up: A Warning Too Late
Just days after receiving the initial scam message, I got another text, supposedly from Solargain, stating:
“Dear Solargain Customers, It has been brought to our attention that an email was sent out on Wednesday 30th April Regarding the WA Battery Rebate. Please note that the form link in that message is not legitimate. We advise you not to enter any information into it. The Solargain I.T. dept. is currently investigating the matter.”
This raised even more questions. Was this second message legitimate, or another attempt by scammers? The date mentioned (April 30th) seemed odd since we’re not even in April yet. This inconsistency was another red flag in this ongoing solar battery scam saga.
How to Spot a Solar Battery Scam Text
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their approach. This solar battery scam used several tactics that almost fooled me:
- Creating a false sense of urgency (“only 19,000 seats”)
- Impersonating a trusted company (Solargain)
- Offering something valuable (government grants)
- Using a professional-looking form
- Following up with “security warnings” that create confusion
The original text claimed registrations had opened for a WA battery grant and encouraged immediate action. It included a seemingly legitimate link to a Jotform page designed to collect personal information.
Why Companies Need Better SMS Security
This incident highlights serious flaws in how companies protect their communications:
- Solargain appears to have failed to secure their SMS channel
- There was no immediate warning to customers about the solar battery scam
- The delayed and potentially fake “warning” message created more confusion
- Customers were left to determine legitimacy without clear guidance
When businesses fail to properly secure their communication channels, customers become vulnerable to scammers who exploit that trust relationship.
How to Verify Legitimate Communications
Before providing personal information through any form, consider these steps:
- Contact the company directly through their official website or phone number (not the one in the message)
- Look for suspicious URLs or email addresses
- Check for inconsistencies like incorrect dates (as seen in the follow-up message)
- Verify offers through official government channels like Energy Policy WA
Protecting Yourself from Similar Scams
The solar battery scam targeting Solargain customers demonstrates how sophisticated these operations have become. To stay safe:
- Never rush to provide personal information
- Be skeptical of unexpected offers, even if they appear to come from trusted companies
- Verify communications through official channels
- Report suspicious messages to both the impersonated company and ScamWatch
The Bigger Picture
This solar battery scam represents a concerning trend where scammers not only send initial phishing attempts but follow up with fake security warnings to maintain credibility or create confusion. Companies need to implement better authentication systems for their customer communications and provide clear guidelines on how to identify legitimate messages.
Final Thoughts
I’m sharing this experience to warn others about this evolving solar battery scam. The confusion created by multiple messages—some potentially legitimate, others clearly fake—makes these scams particularly dangerous. Always verify before sharing your personal information.
Have you received similar suspicious messages? How did you determine whether they were legitimate or not? Share your experiences in the comments below!