Failures, Scams, Complaints and Official Sources
PM Surya Ghar scams: fake websites, calls and registration fees and how to report them
How fraudsters pose as PM Surya Ghar officials or vendors in India, the warning signs of fake portals and fee demands, and what to do if you have paid or shared an OTP.
Registration for PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana on the official national portal is free (MNRE's scheme guidelines set no fee for consumers), and the subsidy is credited by the government to your bank account, or to your linked loan account, after your system is commissioned. So any caller, message or website asking you to pay a registration fee, approval charge or subsidy-processing fee to "release" PM Surya Ghar benefits is a strong sign of fraud. The same applies to anyone asking for an OTP, your UPI PIN or remote access to your phone. If you have already paid or shared details, call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 immediately and report on cybercrime.gov.in, then inform your bank. This guide describes the common patterns, how to check a website or caller, and what to do next.
Common patterns
| Pattern | How it works | Warning signs |
|---|---|---|
| Look-alike website | A site copies the scheme's name and images and collects a "registration fee" | Domain not ending in .gov.in; payment page; urgency banners |
| Fake approval letter | A PDF "sanction letter" with emblems asks for a fee before installation | Fee demanded to a personal or unrelated account |
| Phone call "from the ministry" | Caller says your application is approved and asks for a charge or OTP | Government officials do not call to collect fees or OTPs |
| WhatsApp or SMS links | Message with a link to "check subsidy status" | Shortened or odd links; requests to install an app |
| Fake vendor or "dealership" offers | Ads offering solar dealership or franchise under the scheme for a deposit | Large deposits for a "government" dealership |
| Remote-access apps | Caller asks you to install a screen-sharing app to "help with the form" | Anyone who can see your screen can see your OTPs |
| Overpromising vendors | Real vendors who promise free systems, guaranteed subsidy or zero bills | Claims that contradict the scheme rules |
The patterns above are general. We do not name specific websites or companies; fraudulent sites appear and disappear quickly.
How to check
- Type the address yourself: pmsuryaghar.gov.in. Indian government websites use .gov.in or .nic.in domains. Look-alikes often add words, hyphens or other endings.
- Never pay a fee to register. Charges you may legitimately pay are the vendor's price for the system (under a written quotation and invoice) and DISCOM fees paid through the DISCOM's own channels.
- Verify a vendor against the list of registered vendors for your DISCOM shown on the portal, and check its GSTIN on the GST portal.
- Verify any letter by logging into your own account on the portal to see your application's actual status.
- Call your DISCOM's official number (from your bill or the DISCOM's website) to confirm any claim made in a call.
- Do not share OTPs with anyone. An OTP is often the last step before money leaves your account.
Worked example: a typical fee scam
A householder receives a call: "Your PM Surya Ghar application is approved for ₹78,000 subsidy. Pay ₹2,500 processing fee by UPI today or the slot will be given to someone else." The caller sends a PDF with official-looking emblems.
Checks: the householder logs into the national portal and finds the application still awaiting DISCOM feasibility. The scheme has no processing fee. The UPI ID belongs to an individual. Conclusion: fraud. The householder does not pay, blocks the number, and reports it on cybercrime.gov.in and through the Sanchar Saathi "Chakshu" facility for suspected fraud communications.
If you have already paid or shared details
| Step | Do it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call 1930 (national cybercrime helpline) at once | Faster reporting improves the chance of freezing the money |
| 2 | Report on cybercrime.gov.in | Creates a formal complaint with a reference |
| 3 | Call your bank and block cards/UPI if compromised | Stops further debits |
| 4 | Change passwords and remove remote-access apps | Cuts off access |
| 5 | File a complaint at the local police station if asked | For an FIR where needed |
| 6 | Inform your DISCOM and raise a grievance on the national portal | So your genuine application is protected |
Keep screenshots of messages, call logs, payment receipts, the website address and the UPI ID or account number.
Vendors who mislead
Not every problem is outright fraud. Some vendors:
- quote non-DCR modules while promising subsidy;
- promise "free solar" or "zero bill" without conditions;
- collect large advances and delay installation;
- substitute cheaper components.
These are disputes about deficiency in service or unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Contact the National Consumer Helpline (1915) and see how to complain. To avoid them, use the solar quotation and vendor checklist.
Protecting older relatives
Older family members are often targeted by calls about government benefits. Tell them:
- there is no fee to register for PM Surya Ghar;
- government officials will not ask for OTPs or UPI PINs;
- they should hang up and call you or the DISCOM before acting.
Back to the pillar guide: rooftop solar mistakes and official sources. Related: PM Surya Ghar application steps, solar subsidy not received.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any official charge in the process?
The system price is paid to your vendor under an invoice, and your DISCOM may levy application, testing or meter charges under its rules. None of these is a "subsidy release fee".
Can a vendor register me on the portal?
A registered vendor may help, but the application should be in your name with your own mobile number. You should be able to log in and see it.
How do I report a fake website?
Report it on cybercrime.gov.in with the address and screenshots, and inform MNRE through the contact options on its website.
Will reporting get my money back?
Not always, but quick reporting through 1930 gives the best chance of the payment being traced and held.
Official sources
- PM Surya Ghar national portal — the genuine application site
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal — report fraud; helpline 1930
- Sanchar Saathi — report suspected fraud calls and messages
- National Consumer Helpline — complaints about vendors
