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How to react in case of fraud or identity theft ?
Payment-related fraud is common, especially online, where scams are becoming increasingy sophisticated. To protect your finances from fraud, such as bank card hacking, fraudulent transfers, cheque deposit scams and identity theft, it is essential to stay vigilant and well informed.
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How to react in case of fraud or identity theft ?
Bank cards and online payments
Card hacking
If you notice any suspicious or unauthorised transactions on your bank card, you must notify your bank immediately to report the fraud and block your card. Review your recent transactions to detect any unusual activity on your account. If fraud is confirmed and you have not acted negligently, your bank may reimburse the stolen funds, as well as any related fees.
Preventing Online Fraud
To protect yourself from online fraud, follow these best practices :
- Never share your personal or banking information by phone, text message or email.
- Be cautious of unsolicited emails or text messages requesting confidential information.
- Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or text messages.
- Make purchases only on secure websites (check that the URL begins with ‘https’) ;
- Verify the authenticity of any communication by contacting your bank directly via an official phone number or email address.
Unauthorised bank transfer
If you notice an unauthorised transfer from your account, here is what you should do
- Immediately contact your bank to report the transaction. You have 13 months to notify your bank and request reimbursement of the debited amount.
- Change your online banking password to enhance security.
- Review all saved beneficiaries and scheduled transactions. Report any suspicious additions or transfers to your bank.
If you have not acted negligently, your bank must promptly reimburse the amount of the unauthorised transaction. It must also restore your account to the state it would have been in had the fraudulent transaction not occurred. This includes reimbursing any fees or charges caused by the fraud. This legal protection applies even if you do not have specific insurance.
If your bank refuses to reimburse you, they must prove that you were negligent in managing your banking information, or that you acted fraudulently.
Funds sent to a fraudulent bank account
If you realise that you have made a transfer to a fraudulent IBAN, act immediately.
- Contact your bank without delay and request a fund recall ;
- File a report with the police or gendarmerie as soon as possible.
Please note that the bank cannot be held liable if the error was due to incorrect details provided by you (e.g. wrong BIC/IBAN).
To ensure the security of your transfers, it is important to take certain precautions before making a payment.
Be wary of urgent requests
Fraudsters often use high-pressure tactics to get you to act quickly. Be especially cautious when faced with so-called ‘urgent‘ requests encouraging immediate transfers.
Always take the time to carefully verify all information before proceeding.
Carefully check the bank details provided
Before making a transfer, it is essential to verify the bank account details (RIB) received thoroughly:
- Check its authenticity : Ensure the document contains no suspicious blank spaces or visible alterations.
- Check for typographic consistency : All characters and fonts on the RIB should be uniform and match standard banking formats.
- BIC/SWIFT code consistency : The BIC/SWIFT code, which identifies the beneficiary’s bank, must match the bank’s logo on the RIB. Use an IBAN checker or contact your bank to confirm the information.
Double-check before making a transfer
Before proceeding with the transfer :
- Make a phone verification : Call your contact using a known and trusted phone number to confirm the request.
- Confirm the beneficiary’s identity : Ensure that the beneficiary is not attempting fraud or has not been a victim of identity theft.
These verification steps are essential, as banks do not always verify that the beneficiary’s name matches the IBAN provided. If you have any doubts after completing these checks, it is best to suspend the transaction and delay the payment, rather than risking the permanent loss of your funds.
Attention
Focus on Spoofing: A sophisticated fraud technique
What to do in case of identity theft ?
Identity theft is a serious criminal offence involving someone using your personal information without your consent to carry out actions in your name. It can result from the loss or theft of your identity documents or occur online via social media and other digital platforms.
Consequences of identity theft
Once your identity has been stolen, a fraudster may open bank accounts, issue bad cheques or take out loans in your name that they do not repay. These actions can have serious financial consequences. You may be listed in payment incident files and be subject to debt collection procedures by bailiffs or collection agencies. Resolving the situation requires you to prove the identity theft, which is often a long and complex process.
Steps to follow
1 File a police report as soon as possible
As soon as you discover that you are the victim of identity theft, go to your local police station or gendarmerie to file a complaint. You can also do this online via the French Ministry of the Interior website. At the same time, report the incident on Pharos, the official platform for reporting illegal online content.
2 Alert your banks
Notify your bank of the identity theft without delay. If you have accounts with multiple institutions, make sure to contact each one.
This will enable your banks to swiftly take the necessary steps to secure your accounts and safeguard your finance
3 Check for accounts opened in your name
To find out if any bank accounts have been opened in your name without your consent, you can consult the national register of bank accounts (Ficoba and Ficom). To do so, Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL) ) for Ficoba and IEOM for Ficom.
4 Check for listings in Banque de France files.
It is essential to verify whether your name appears in the Banque de France registers, such as the Central Cheque Register (FCC) or the Personal Credit Repayment Incident Register (FICP). Even if you are not currently listed, it is recommended that you check regularly by exercising your right of access with the Banque de France.
Visit our Payment Incident Registers page to learn more.
What to do if your fraud reimbursement request is denied ?
In response to the constant evolution of fraud techniques, the Observatory for the Security of Payment Means has issued thirteen recommendations to improve the reimbursement process for victims of fraud.
These guidelines aim to make reimbursements more effective, while also emphasising the importance of users being vigilant and responsible when it comes to securing payment methods.
Here are the key recommendations :
- Investigation time frame : Investigations should ideally be limited to 30 days, except in exceptional cases, to avoid the loss of relevant information and to provide a clear and final response within a reasonable timeframe.
- Terms and timing for recovering reimbursed funds : If funds need to be recovered after an initial reimbursement, you should be informed at the time of reimbursement. The deadline for recovering funds should not exceed 30 days after the initial reimbursement, except in exceptional circumstances.
- Customer information in the event of a refund refusal or recovery of funds : If reimbursement is denied or funds are recovered, the service provider must clearly inform you of the reasons for this decision. They must also explain how to file a formal complaint.
These measures are designed to ensure greater transparency in the handling of fraud reports and help restore consumer confidence in secure payment systems.
You can consult the full recommendations of the Observatory for the Security of Payment Means on reimbursing fraud victims.
Be careful when using and investing in crypto-assets
Although they attract a growing number of investors, crypto-assets carry significant financial risks and are highly speculative. Any potential investor must understand that such investments may result in the complete loss of their investment. Promises of quick and substantial returns should always be treated with the utmost caution.
Investing in crypto-assets requires a thorough understanding of these products and their associated risks. Be particularly alert to the risk of scams, such as buying non-existent crypto-assets or funding fraudulent projects. The French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) maintains a blacklist of scam websites related to crypto-assets, which is available on its official website.
If you wish to speak to someone or send an e-mail, contact the IEOM office in your area, which will provide you with information :
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