Fake Police Scams in France
Criminals impersonating Police Nationale or Gendarmerie officers coerce French residents into paying fabricated fines or transferring funds to fake 'secure accounts'.
Part of: Fake Police Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake-police fraud (escroquerie aux faux policiers) is a well-documented and persistent crime in France. In one classic French variant, elderly victims receive a visit or call from individuals presenting fake police credentials, claiming their savings are at risk from a fraudulent bank employee and must be transferred to a police-held 'safe account'.
The Gendarmerie Nationale and Police Nationale publish regular warnings about both the in-person 'faux agents' and telephone-based variants, noting that the in-person version disproportionately victimises older residents in rural areas and Île-de-France suburbs.
How this scam works on France
Callers spoof official Police Nationale telephone numbers and warn the victim that their bank account is compromised. They instruct the victim to withdraw cash or make a bank transfer to a 'Trésor Public sécurisé' account. A 'banker' (second actor) then calls to confirm the transfer, creating an apparent two-agency validation that increases credibility.
The browser pop-up variant displays an 'avertissement de la Police Nationale' claiming illegal content was found on the device, demanding a fine be paid via coupon prépayé (prepaid voucher such as Transcash or PCS) to unlock the computer.
In-person variants involve well-dressed individuals showing laminated fake police ID ('carte tricolore') and asking to examine banknotes or jewellery for 'counterfeit detection', during which genuine items are swapped for fakes.
Common red flags
- Caller asks you to move savings to protect them from a fraudulent bank employee
- Browser pop-up demands a fine via prepaid voucher to avoid prosecution
- In-person visitor asks to examine cash or valuables on behalf of 'an investigation'
- Police officer cannot give a verifiable badge number or station callback number
- Urgency — you must act within hours or face arrest
- Instructions to keep the transaction secret from family or your bank
How to protect yourself
- Real French police never ask you to move savings or pay fines by prepaid voucher
- Call 17 (Police Nationale emergency) or 09 805 805 05 (Police Nationale no-urgency line) to verify any contact
- For browser pop-ups, restart the device — do not call numbers displayed on screen
- Never hand over cash or valuables to an unexpected visitor claiming police authority
- Warn elderly relatives about this specific fraud pattern
How to report it
- Police Nationale: 17 (emergency) or pre-plainte-en-ligne.service-public.fr
- Gendarmerie: 17 (same national number) or gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr
- DGCCRF SignalConso: signal.conso.gouv.fr for consumer-fraud reports
Frequently asked questions
Can real French police demand I move money to protect it?
Never. No legitimate law-enforcement agency in France requests fund transfers to a 'secure account'. Any such request is fraud. Hang up and call 17 independently to report.