Warning over Linky electricity meter crime scam in northwest France

Householders are warned to beware of a return of a variation on a common scam in which criminals try to gain entry to victims’ homes by claiming they are there to ‘update’ the Linky electricity meter.

The warning has been prompted by a spate of such crimes in Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-d'Armor.

Authorities said that homeowners should always ask for identification from any unknown person who calls at their house claiming to represent a utility company or official body. If necessary, call the local offices of the firm that any caller says they are with.

Never leave the person alone in your house.

Enedis, the company that operates and maintains the electricity grid, said that it does not carry out "any telephone or physical canvassing" whether by its teams or by its service providers.

It is not the only scam involving Linky meters.

Unscrupulous door-to-door salespeople in Poitiers switched homeowners’ electricity supplier without their consent after gaining access to the meter and noting the customer’s registration number.