Beware of dodgy websites claiming to sell ‘electric-saving devices’

A plug-in device which claims it can save you money on your electricity bills is leaving some people out of pocket.

The retailer, ElectraSavvy, stated that its plug-in device reduces household electricity bills by ‘improving the flow of power throughout the home’.

Online reviews claim the device either didn’t work, didn’t arrive or they were subsequently charged again after buying it.

Below, we tell you how to avoid being conned by seemingly dubious websites and dodgy products.

‘Reduce wasted electricity from your home’

When we tried to visit ElectraSavvy's website, our internet browser prompted warnings that the connection wasn’t private and attackers might be trying to steal our information.

The retailer claims to offer three product bundles, which include one, two or three of its electricity-saving devices depending on the size of your home.

It also states that the device is designed in the UK, recommended by electricians and can reduce your electricity bill by up to 67%, or you can get your money back.

It advises customers to plug the device into a socket near their fuse box and that when it lights up in green, it indicates that it’s working. ElectraSavvy says that it takes around six to eight weeks to see the benefits and results.

The website also features ‘reviews’ that boast of its benefits.

Read more: 10 ways to save on your energy bills.

What do customers say?

Some online reviews for the ‘energy-saving’ device say that it didn’t work, although it's not clear whether the customers waited the six to eight weeks that the company says is needed for savings to be seen. Other reviews have said that when they bought the device, their card was seemingly declined but they were still charged for the item more than once.

In one review, a disgruntled customer said that they bought the product for £35, but ended up having £285 taken from their account.

We also saw numerous reviews where customers claimed that they couldn’t get in touch with ElectraSavvy.

Electricity-saving devices

Which? hasn't tested the devices available on ElectraSavvy. But we have previously investigated these so called energy-saving devices before. In 2022, we found dozens of listings on Amazon and eBay for similar devices. We tested six devices in our specialist lab and found no evidence that they work.

The lab also discovered that these devices didn't comply with British electrical safety standards and therefore could be dangerous by potentially causing fires or electric shocks.

Which? has also previously warned that buying unbranded electrical products, particularly on online marketplaces, should be avoided.

We contacted ElectraSavvy about the claims made in this story and didn't hear back.

Spotting dodgy websites

If you come across a website that you’re unsure of:

• Inspect the website's address. It might try to imitate legitimate brand sites, so check for any extra or missing characters. You can also use a domain checker such as who.is to see when the website was created, as a newly created website should raise alarm bells. We looked up ElectraSavvy and found that it was created in May 2024 and registered to an address used in a scam we previously reported on.
• Be suspicious of prices and claims that sound too good to be true.
• Browse the website for pages, including a privacy policy, terms and conditions and about us and contact pages. These are always present on professional websites, so it’s a red flag if one of these pages is missing.
• Read online reviews across multiple platforms but be aware of how to spot a fake review.

If you think you have lost money to a scam, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud or call the police on 101 if you’re in Scotland.