Crime and security

French police issue warnings over fake tax letter and QR code

Letters direct recipients to fake tax website and ask for personal details, including vital cryptocurrency password

Parents in court over daughter’s killing as trial of famous French cold case begins

‘Little martyr of the A10’ case involved discovery of child’s body by motorway in 1987

Corsica schools introduce anti-mafia lessons for teenagers

Programme teaching children about organised crime, intimidation and its impact on island life has been expanded

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Cyberattack heats cold storage units at France’s main blood bank

No blood products were damaged or lost

French bank hit by cyberattack with €118m reportedly stolen

Bank says customers will face no financial losses

How a taxi scam in France cost victims thousands - and how to avoid the same fate

One passenger was charged €2,500 for a journey that should have cost just €38.60

New ‘fake roofer’ scam involving drones reported in Nice

Man offers to fly drone over a property to inspect the roof for damage

Claims deadline approaches for investors in failed French holiday home village

British and Dutch who lost money in scheme linked to ex-UK policeman encouraged to make claims

Cybersecurity attack sees information of 847,000 French number plates reportedly for sale

Hackers also claim to have taken email addresses and telephone numbers, with information potentially being used for fake fine scams

What is 'fiche-S' government watchlist Limoges mairie fire suspect was reportedly on?

34-year-old man held in connection with blaze was allegedly on list

French prefecture websites taken offline after critical security flaws found

Security experts warn the flaws could put websites at risk of cyberattacks

Hack of French tax data base possible because of weak systems, finds report

Several government databases hacked over summer

Debris fills a damaged historic interior beneath ornate ceilings and tall arched windows.

Photos: damage caused by riots at Limoges mairie in central France

Man suspected of being involved in the fire has been arrested

Step by step: what to do if your car is stolen in France

The key steps to take and the deadlines to know

French prime minister's mobile phone number found by hackers of underwear store

Personal details of 25 of the 36 members of the government can reportedly be found on the internet after company hacks

Gun found by British tourists in Annecy lake not linked to Chevaline murders

Killing of four people including members of a British-Iraqi family remains unsolved after 14 years

Are you responsible if your dog bites a burglar in France?

Home insurance policies often cover damage from pets

Thieves break into Renoir museum near Nice, steal paintings worth €9 million

Two of the four stolen paintings were abandoned in the Riviera museum gardens

Support dog helps victims of crime speak up in Haut-Rhin

A judicial assistance dog in Mulhouse helps victims during police interviews, court hearings and medical appointments

Intense forest fire with bright flames and thick smoke over a dark tree line at night.

Arsonist in southern France jailed for five years for starting four fires this summer

474 arrests have so far been made this summer in relation to wildfires

Glowing padlock icons hover above a laptop keyboard in a dark cyber security scene.

Hackers claim to have accessed property-owner data on French official website

Warnings over phishing and scam attempts as data offered for sale

Close-up of French National Police security tape stretched across a blurred scene

Two dead after car drives into crowd at tram stop in Caen, Normandy

Witnesses say happened after an altercation at a bar. Driver has been arrested

Man arrested in relation to suspected murder of 78-year-old Briton in central France

Tradesperson reportedly worked on property where Briton was found dead earlier this month

Close-up of a black police vest marked “POLICE”, with a Paris street scene inset.

Briton suspected of attempting to murder neighbour in Nice undergoing psychiatric evaluation

Man who showed 'heroic courage' in stopping attack on woman aged 59-60 awarded city of Nice medal

A view of the impots.gouv.fr French tax website

French tax data leak: victims will be informed this week

People urged to be wary of scams after personal data belonging to 678,000 users stolen

Someone holding a phone, with an alert graphic above it to show a scam

Bank impersonation scam in France: Briton reveals red flags

Reader Deirdre Rankin, 79, lost thousands to scammer

A view of two men trying to break into a house

France sees spike in summer burglaries: tips on staying safe

The worst-hit areas and what you can do to put off burglars

Intermarché cyberattack affects nearly 300,000 customers

Personal information taken by hackers, calls for online vigilance in coming weeks

Mother and daughter loading a suitcase into the back of a silver car outside a house.

Free French police checks for your home and vulnerable relatives when absent

How to sign up for the Opération Tranquillité Vacances service and special wellbeing check

Controversial police firearms bill advances in France

Petition against law racks up more than 700,000 signatures

Bones found in new searches related to France’s no-body murder case

Husband confessed to killing his wife last week after denying his involvement for five years, and is helping authorities find remains

'I was scammed out of thousands by removals firm in France'

The company collected the items then stopped responding

If I leave my window open during heatwave am I still insured against burglary in France?

Not all home insurance policies include theft coverage

Husband admits killing wife in France's notorious no-body murder case

Cédric Jubillar, 38, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in October 2025

Protester in Paris holds a purple sign reading 'Pas d'excuse pour les prédateurs' at a demonstration.

France's reckoning over child protection is long overdue

The case of 11-year-old Lyhanna is becoming a watershed moment

Stepmother convicted in France for slapping boy, 5

It has been illegal to smack children in France since 2019

A view of a certificat d'enregistrement or carte grise

Driver in south-east France registered car to daughter, 9, to avoid fines

She took father to court after turning 19 and finding out she had €5,000 of penalties

Update: British woman, 28, who went missing in Paris has been found

Lucy Stemp disappeared after attending a music festival and has been described as ‘very vulnerable’ by her family

Body found in search for missing 11-year-old girl in Gers, south-west France

Suspect worked on farm where remains were recovered

Partially built villa with concrete block walls and open window spaces behind a site fence.

UK directors investigated over failed French holiday village

New rules require holiday village developers to explain risk

Gîtes de France among three booking websites to be hit by cyberattack

Data relating to more than two million bookings accessed over the weekend

France rail police authorised to use tasers at Paris, Rennes and Lyon stations

Around 10% of officers will be able to carry them at major stations and on certain rail lines

A view of someone paying with euro notes

French officials demand record €20billion be paid back after checks into tax and social security fraud

Figure includes €17.1billion in additional tax and penalties notified to individuals and businesses after reassessments

Fake French police officer scams return – tips to protect yourself

Fraudsters posing as police to gain entry to a property

Protection,Of,Private,Residential,Building,With,Help,Of,An,External

French burglar alarms triggered most in December and summer

High concentration of break-in attempts is 'certainly linked to absences for the end-of-year holidays'

A view of someone using a laptop with a red alert symbol over it to show a breach of data

Personal data leak: French document agency hit by cyberattack

Information included names and email addresses potentially taken from ANTS database following leak

Paris,,France,-,March,16,,2019:,Tribunal,Correctionnel,,Criminal,Court.

French courtroom experience leaves us wanting more

Fraud victim Nick Inman describes what happens when a case goes to trial

Dordogne murder: why no news one year on?

Case highlights how French murder probes differ from those in the US and UK

Gun owners' personal data hacked in cyberattack of French government site

Anonymous hacker said to be selling data of over 60,000 firearms registered on database

Body of missing 85-year-old found in south-west France

The woman's car was spotted in a ravine

Attempted bomb attack at Bank of America in Paris: three suspects in custody

Explosive device discovered and removed before it could be ignited

Suspected sighting of French family murder suspect in Texas: call for witnesses made

Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès was reportedly spotted in 2020 in Texan county he visited when younger

Prison sentences requested for €1m MaPrimeRenov’ fraud

Seven men are accused of 'organised' stealing from the government scheme

Fines issued in France to viewers of illegal streaming services

Users of IPTV boxes fined up to €400 for watching illegally streamed sports matches

New ‘toothpick’ trick used by burglars in France can target second homes

Authorities in Ariège report several burglaries using method since start of the month

‘Ghost garages’ in France: more than 1 million vehicles fraudulently registered

State and local authorities defrauded of over €550 million between 2022 and 2024, says state auditor

Close-up of the Police Nationale symbol sewn on the sleeve of a policeman in France

British woman who went missing from her home in Nîmes found in Italy

Danisah, 28, disappeared at the beginning of the month

French Senate backs wider use of number plate cameras

New law would allow cameras across France to use number plate recognition to help police track vehicles and fight crime

Did an illegal pit bull dog kill woman in France? Court case opens

Pit bull terrier Curtis ‘obsessed’ with biting and may have been trained by woman’s partner

Doctors’ records hit by cyberattack: up to 15 million patients in France affected

Information about sexual orientation, infidelity, and assaults taken alongside administrative data

Murder suspect - thought dead - fled to US from Nice, claims former investigator

Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès is suspected of killing his wife and four children

Which cars are stolen the most in France and why?

Perhaps surprisingly, the higher-end vehicles are not the most targeted

Workers,Installing,Solar,Panels,On,Roof,Framework,Of,New,Home,

Homeowners in France warned of solar panel scam danger

Unscrupulous sellers target homeowners who are keen to install solar panels, says consumer rights group

Campervans are new target for thefts in France

Hybrid SUVs were also among the vehicles more at risk, a new study shows

Paris murder case baffles as suspects are identical twins with same DNA

Defence lawyer claims it is impossible to determine who fired fatal gunshots

Four suspected of spying for China in west France

Suspicions were raised after neighbours spotted and reported the installation of a two-metre-wide satellite dish

Marine Le Pen appeal: Prosecutors call for election ban to be upheld

The court of appeal will return a decision before the summer, ahead of the 2027 elections

Crime in France in 2025: burglaries and car thefts fall but fraud rises

Non-violent theft against individuals remains the most common reported offence, according to France’s annual crime statistics report

Enedis warns of rising fake energy sales calls across France

Fraudsters posing as Enedis or its partners are targeting households, prompting daily scam reports to the electricity network operator

American celebrity jeweller robbed of ‘more than €1m’ at French Riviera Airbnb

Jewellery and cash stolen from rental property where Chris Aire was staying

Free fraud service for UK homeowners living in France

Owners can sign up for a free monitoring service from HM Land Registry to reduce risk of fraud

A view of a La Poste sign outside a building

New cyberattack hits La Poste parcel and banking service

Many services were unavailable for much of New Year’s Day. Personal data is reported to be safe

Burglaries in Dordogne: Signs that show a home is at risk

A series of break-ins have been reported over the Christmas period

SFR customers in France warned to be vigilant following cyberattack

Data from potentially millions of customers were taken following data breach

French anaesthetist jailed for life for poisoning 30 patients, 12 fatally

Doctor tampered with infusion drips before procedures to tarnish reputation of other doctors and prove himself a saviour