Beware of calendar-selling scams in France around Christmas: how to avoid falling victim

Fraudsters can pose as officials looking to sell calendars or raise funds

It is common for some workers to ask for donations around Christmas time
Published

Residents in France are being warned over the reappearance of a ‘calendar scam’ in several areas in the run up to Christmas.

Fraudsters will knock on doors posing as officials of a local worker’s group – usually refuse workers, or sometimes firefighters or postal workers – looking to raise money for charity. 

They usually ask for money in exchange for a calendar or directly for donations, however they are either pocketing money unwittingly handed over, or using the door-knocking as a ruse to enter people’s homes and rob them.

Several departments have highlighted instances of the scam so far this year, particularly in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region and Clermont-Ferrand.

How to avoid scam

When conducted legitimately, calendar-selling and door knocking is a means for municipal workers to raise funds (known as étrennes) and is a natural part of Christmas in France.

Due to the risk of scams however, their arrival is made clear in advance. 

“Genuine collection agents are not authorised to canvas at home, request payment, or replace bins without prior official notification from the community,” said the Côte-d'Or gendarmerie, one of the departments where incidents of the scam are being reported.

It means you should know in advance if any canvassing is set to take place in your area.

Official advice from the authorities is to:

  • Not let any canvassers into your home – official workers will not need to come inside to ask for funds or sell calendars, and will not ask to come in

  • Avoid making any payments unless you are sure of the authenticity of the worker 

  • Feel free to ask for an official card or document – legitimate workers will be able to provide this and not be offended if asked

  • Report any suspicious door knocking to police, and gather as much information as possible to pass on while remaining safe

Nationally, police officers and gendarmerie are prohibited from canvassing for etrennes, so anyone doing so can instantly be disregarded as a scammer.

Firefighters must canvas in full, official uniform – if you see someone wearing trainers but looking to sell a firefighter calendar, they are not doing so legitimately. 

Postal workers now mainly ask for étrennes in rural areas, where the ‘postie’ forms a part of the local community. They will be the only ones officially selling calendars or raising funds. In cities, it is less common for La Poste workers to be doing so.

Finally, bin and refuse workers may be prohibited from canvassing due to company or municipal policies – you should be able to find out online what the rules are for those in your area.

Faced with an increase in such scams, authorities in Clermont-Ferrand now require any workers engaged in door knocking over Christmas to wear clothing with the official metropole logo on, to be more easily identified.