Government warning about scammers pretending to be French authorities

Authorities in France are advising taxpayers to be wary as a number of scams are currently targeting them. 

In many cases, scammers are imitating the Direction générale des Finances publiques (DGFiP), either through emails, letters, or phone calls. 

The end of summer is a popular season for scammers to attempt to trick taxpayers, with homeowners and taxpayers likely to receive official emails from the authorities during this time.

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The DGFiP provided an update on some of the current scams, as well as tips on how to avoid them. 

Email scams are most common…

Two fraudulent emails in particular are being seen from scammers claiming to be the official tax authorities. 

One states the recipient is due a tax refund following a reassessment of their income declaration, with the other claiming the opposite, that an additional payment needs to be made. 

The emails can look genuine as they use an official DGFiP or French government letterhead, or a fake signature or stamp from a public official.

However, the emails direct recipients to an external link to either receive or make the additional payment. The DGFiP states that any emails or texts it sends will never contain a link to an external site. 

In legitimate situations where a rebate or additional payment actually is required, the taxpayer will probably have already been notified of such and would have been asked to log on to their personal space on the French tax website. 

The DGFiP urges people never to click on an external link from an email claiming to be from any official authority. 

Business owners may also be contacted via fraudulent email, which often include fake documents to make it seem more legitimate, asking for details about the company, including banking information. 

If in doubt, the DGFiP recommends not replying to any messages. 

Owners should check if information related to their local business tax department (service des impôt des entreprises or SIE) is on the email. If it is not then the email will be fraudulent. 

A telltale sign that emails are not legitimate is if they contain poor grammar and spelling mistakes.

…Followed by fraudulent texts

Similarly, a fraudulent text message aimed at drivers has also been picked up by the authorities. 

The text reads: AMENDES.GOUV : Veuillez noter que vous avez une amende de stationnement impayée. Pour éviter toute majoration, régularisez votre situation le plus rapidement possible en utilisant le lien ci-dessous.

In English: “AMENDES.GOUV: Please note that you have an unpaid parking fine. To avoid any additional charges, please address as quickly as possible using the link below.” 

The DGFiP will never send out a text for non-payment of a fine, and again, will not ask people to click on an external link via a legitimate text or email. 

In both cases of a fraudulent text or email, if you are concerned the authorities recommend contacting the appropriate department directly, either via phone or email, or, for taxes, via your personal account on the French tax site. 

Fake tax centre contact numbers 

Fraudulent websites also ask people to contact the tax authorities directly by phone, but provide a fake number. 

The numbers may be premium, for example 0 899 or 0 891, which can charge high per-minute rates.

The DGFiP confirms that to contact the authorities, you will either need to call your local FInances Publiques office (which will use a local number, i.e starting 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or via a free phone national number: 0 809 401 401. 

Other recent scams that have been making the rounds in France can be seen in our articles below: 

Read more: Warning over sophisticated holiday rental scam across France

Read more: France is worst country in Europe for bank card fraud: how to protect yourself

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