Scams in France: watch out for these telephone prefixes

Did you know that you can often tell if a call in France is genuine or a scam by looking at the first few digits of the number? It is because scammers are using a new app to spoof numbers - and the numbers in it that can be used are set.

The app OnOff enables users to show multiple phone numbers from the same phone SIM (often useful for business). 

But scammers are increasingly using this tool to pretend they are calling from professional-looking numbers, which begin with 06 or 07.

Yet, this can actually help you to detect possible scammers. This is because the app cannot give users any number they wish. Instead, OnOff is only authorised to give out numbers that are granted to it by French communications authority l’Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques (Arcep).

Since the start of 2023, OnOff has only been able to issue numbers that start with:

• 06 44 66

• 06 44 67

• 06 44 68

• 06 44 69

• 07 56 8

• 07 56 9

If you receive a call from any of these numbers, the caller could be using OnOff to spoof their number so staying alert to these numbers could help you to detect a scammer.

Read also: France launches new online platform for reporting internet scams 

Caution needed

Caution: This is not 100% foolproof as Arcep only began to attribute these numbers to OnOff in March 2023. This means that:

• Some genuine callers may still have numbers that start with these digits because they had them before March 2023

• Not all users of OnOff are scammers. Some people use the app for genuine reasons.

Check the number

Keeping an eye on the numbers that are calling you before you pick up is a good idea generally. 

As well as helping to detect scammers, since January 2023, Arcep has only authorised certain numbers to be used by marketers and commercial callers.

Marketers in mainland France can only use numbers starting with 0162, 0163, 0270, 0271, 0377, 0378, 0424, 0425, 0568, 0569, 0948 and 0949. 

Phone marketers are no longer allowed to use numbers beginning with 06 or 07. 

Read more: How to check if an incoming call is from a cold caller in France

They are also required to introduce themselves, tell the caller that they have the right to refuse the call at the start, and are only allowed to call from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00, and from 14:00 to 20:00. 

The same marketer is not allowed to call more than four times in one month and cannot call within the next 60 days once you have said you are not interested.

If they break these rules, marketers risk a fine of €75,000 for an individual and €375,000 for a company.

If you receive unwanted calls from marketers, here are some useful quick French phrases to respond:

• Non, merci (No, thank you)

• Cela ne m'intéresse pas (I’m not interested)

• Ce n’est pas pour moi, merci (It’s not for me, thank you)

• Ne me rappelez pas, s'il vous plaît (Please don’t call me back)

• Veuillez retirer mon numéro de votre liste (Please take my number off your list)

You can also calmly point out any errors to the caller if they make them. For example, if they call outside the legal hours, or if they start the call without asking for your permission to continue or not.

You can also remind them that they cannot call within the next 60 days once you have said you are not interested.