France Scams: Phishing, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams in France and how to report via cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, SignalConso, and your bank.
Emergency number: 17 (police), 112 (emergency) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
France has seen sustained growth in online fraud, including phishing, smishing, fake parcel fee texts (impersonating La Poste or delivery services), investment and crypto scams, and romance fraud. The national platform cybermalveillance.gouv.fr assists victims of cybercrime by connecting them to local experts and allowing incident reports. Consumer disputes can be raised through the DGCCRF's SignalConso portal. Police complaints can be filed in person at a commissariat or online at masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr. Contacting your bank immediately after any suspected fraud gives the best chance of halting a transfer.
Common scams
- Phishing emails and SMS impersonating banks, CPF, or Ameli
- Parcel-fee smishing (fake La Poste or courier texts)
- Investment and crypto fraud
- 'CPF' pension or training-account theft scams
Tourist-specific scams
- Petition or 'deaf and dumb' distraction scams
- Overcharging or fake taxi services at tourist sites
- Gold ring street scam
Online shopping scams
- Fake online retailers
- Account takeover via phishing
- Marketplace and rental deposit fraud
Job scams
- Task scams via messaging apps
- Fake job offers requiring upfront payments
Romance scams
- Dating-app romance and pig-butchering crypto schemes
Investment scams
- Fake trading platforms and clone firms
- Crypto and 'AI bot' investment scams
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately if a transfer was made
- Report cybercrime and get expert referrals at cybermalveillance.gouv.fr
- File a police complaint in person or at masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr
- Report consumer fraud via SignalConso at signal.conso.gouv.fr
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank immediately using the number on your card or their official website. French banks can attempt to recall fraudulent transfers most effectively within the first few hours. No legitimate institution asks for your full card number, CVV, or one-time code by email or text.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is cybermalveillance.gouv.fr?
It is France's official government platform for assisting cybercrime victims. You can report an incident and be connected to a local cybersecurity professional. It also publishes guidance on current threats.
What is the CPF scam?
Fraudsters impersonate the Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF) training account system, contacting people by phone or SMS and convincing them to 'release' training credits that are then stolen. Never share your CPF access code with an unsolicited caller.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance