{
  "name": "Solar Scam Pattern Database",
  "description": "Machine-readable taxonomy of recurring solar scam complaint patterns, common pitches, evidence to preserve, and recommended next-step resources.",
  "url": "https://solarpanelscams.com/solar-scam-patterns",
  "dateModified": "2026-06-18",
  "license": "Public educational reference; informational only, not legal advice.",
  "fields": [
    "id",
    "pattern",
    "longTailQuery",
    "typicalPitch",
    "evidenceToPreserve",
    "nextResource",
    "riskArea"
  ],
  "patterns": [
    {
      "id": "free-solar-bait",
      "pattern": "The free-solar bait",
      "longTailQuery": "free solar panel scam",
      "typicalPitch": "No electric bill, no out-of-pocket cost, or a government program that supposedly pays for the system.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Ads, canvasser scripts, proposal screenshots, tax-credit promises, and the final financing disclosure.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/blog/solar-panel-scams-ripoffs",
      "riskArea": "sales misrepresentation"
    },
    {
      "id": "tablet-signature-ambush",
      "pattern": "Tablet signature ambush",
      "longTailQuery": "solar contract tablet signature scam",
      "typicalPitch": "A rushed e-signature flow where the homeowner signs before seeing the final contract, loan, or cancellation notice.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Audit trail, DocuSign envelope, timestamps, IP records, salesperson texts, and the first full copy received.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/blog/homeowners-legal-rights-solar-fraud",
      "riskArea": "contract formation"
    },
    {
      "id": "dealer-fee-loan-inflation",
      "pattern": "Dealer-fee loan inflation",
      "longTailQuery": "solar loan dealer fee fraud",
      "typicalPitch": "A low monthly payment that hides a larger principal balance, dealer fee, or payment jump after a promo period.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Loan agreement, APR disclosure, cash-price comparison, tax-credit language, and payment schedule.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/blog/solar-panel-financing-fraud-compensation",
      "riskArea": "financing"
    },
    {
      "id": "payments-before-pto",
      "pattern": "Payments before PTO",
      "longTailQuery": "solar loan payments before permission to operate",
      "typicalPitch": "Payments start while the system is off, inspections are unfinished, or the utility has not approved interconnection.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "PTO records, utility emails, inspection notes, lender statements, monitoring screenshots, and service tickets.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/solar-scam-evidence-checklist",
      "riskArea": "utility interconnection"
    },
    {
      "id": "title-trap-lien-surprise",
      "pattern": "Title trap lien surprise",
      "longTailQuery": "solar UCC lien title problem",
      "typicalPitch": "A UCC-1, fixture filing, PACE assessment, or payoff demand appears during refinance, sale, or estate transfer.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Title report, county recorder search, payoff letter, financing agreement, escrow notes, and lender messages.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/blog/solar-panel-financing-fraud-compensation",
      "riskArea": "lien and title"
    },
    {
      "id": "installer-ghosting-warranty-stall",
      "pattern": "Installer ghosting and warranty stall",
      "longTailQuery": "solar installer disappeared warranty complaint",
      "typicalPitch": "The installer stops answering, blames the lender or utility, changes names, dissolves, or abandons warranty work.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Service tickets, call logs, bankruptcy notices, corporate records, warranty documents, and repair estimates.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/companies",
      "riskArea": "installer failure"
    },
    {
      "id": "savings-fantasy-spreadsheet",
      "pattern": "Savings fantasy spreadsheet",
      "longTailQuery": "solar savings estimate false promise",
      "typicalPitch": "Projected savings, production, offsets, or bill reductions do not match the utility bills after installation.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Proposal, shade report, production guarantee, pre/post utility bills, monitoring exports, and usage history.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/blog/solar-panel-scams-ripoffs",
      "riskArea": "savings projection"
    },
    {
      "id": "permit-roof-damage-dodge",
      "pattern": "Permit and roof damage dodge",
      "longTailQuery": "solar roof damage permit inspection complaint",
      "typicalPitch": "Panels are installed with roof damage, failed inspections, missing permits, bad wiring, or unresolved leaks.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Photos, inspection cards, permit portal records, roofer reports, insurance letters, and repair invoices.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/solar-case-documents",
      "riskArea": "installation defect"
    },
    {
      "id": "utility-impersonation-hook",
      "pattern": "Utility impersonation hook",
      "longTailQuery": "solar company pretending to be utility",
      "typicalPitch": "A rep implies they work for the utility, a city program, or a neighborhood energy initiative.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Door hanger, badge photo, phone number, recorded voicemail, email domain, and utility denial letter.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/reporting-seeking-help",
      "riskArea": "impersonation"
    },
    {
      "id": "solar-robocall-lead-gen-scam",
      "pattern": "Solar robocall lead-gen scam",
      "longTailQuery": "solar telemarketing scam robocall",
      "typicalPitch": "A survey, rebate check, free quote, or energy audit call routes homeowners into a high-pressure solar sale.",
      "evidenceToPreserve": "Caller ID, recording, consent language, landing page, lead form, appointment confirmation, and opt-out record.",
      "nextResource": "https://solarpanelscams.com/reporting-seeking-help",
      "riskArea": "telemarketing"
    }
  ]
}