Beware of common scam linked to toll-free motorways in France after holiday weekend
Drivers warned of fake messages purportedly from a leading motorway payment service
The messages mimic the look of real Ulys and Vinci Autoroutes emails, including company logos and colours
Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock
Drivers in France are warned about an increase in phishing scams involving fake messages purporting to come from Ulys, the motorway toll payment service of Vinci Autoroutes.
The warning comes at the end of the long Pentecôte weekend, when millions of motorists have been on the road and may be more susceptible to fall for the fake messages claiming unpaid tolls.
The scam takes the form of emails or text messages stating that a small sum, a few euros, is owed for motorway usage.
Victims are urged to make their payment via a link that appears to lead to the Ulys website, but is in fact a convincing fake.
The mails mimic the look and feel of real Ulys and Vinci Autoroutes emails, including the company logos and colours.
One fraudulent site to which they link used the address ulys-fr.com - a subtle variation on the legitimate ulys.com.
In some cases, messages are sent via mobile numbers beginning with +33 6, which may appear odd but do not always trigger suspicion, particularly if the victim is distracted by the scammers’ pressure tactics.
Indeed, fraudulent sites often apply such tactics, threatening account suspension or fines if action is not taken immediately.
Read more: Which French motorway toll subscription offers the best deal?
Phishing campaign mainly by email
Vinci has previously advised in a statement that it is the target of an “extensive phishing campaign,” primarily via email.
Ulys has also published an alert message on their website reading: "The Ulys brand is currently being used in a phishing campaign. You may receive fraudulent e-mails, letters or SMS imitating the Ulys brand (colors, logo, website, etc.)."
The messages are designed to trick users into providing personal and bank details.
The company advises checking the sender address carefully. BFMTV reports that emails from Ulys or Vinci Autoroutes always end in one of the following domains:
@vinci-autoroutes.com
@services.ulys.com
@clients.ulys.com
@contact.ulys.com
@email.vinci-autoroutes.com
@e.ulys.vinci-autoroutes.com
@enquete.vinci-autoroutes.com
What to do if you receive a suspicious text or email
If you have received a suspicious message claiming to be from Ulys or Vinci Autoroutes you can forward it to alerte.phishing.ulys@vinci-autoroutes.com (with “alerte phishing” in the subject line).
Phishing attempts can also be reported to the French government’s cybercrime platform at internet-signalement.gouv.fr.
Spam text messages can be reported by sending a screenshot of the message to 33700.
