France (FR)

France's most prevalent and financially damaging government-benefit scam. Criminals cold-call individuals claiming to help them use their CPF training credit before it "expires" or is "cancelled." They create fake training enrolments, steal the training funds (paid directly to a bogus training provider), and sometimes obtain SPID or personal data for further fraud. Losses to the CPF system have reached hundreds of millions of euros. A new anti-fraud law was voted in May 2026. The official and only legitimate platform is moncompteformation.gouv.fr.

Scammer posts a copied listing at an attractive rent on Leboncoin, SeLoger, or Facebook, claims to be abroad (missionary work, oil rig, deployed overseas), asks for a virement or caution (deposit) before any visit. Once paid, they disappear. Photos are typically stolen from legitimate listings and can be identified via reverse image search.

Callers, SMS messages, or emails impersonating Assurance Maladie (CPAM), CAF, the Trésor Public, or the préfecture claim you owe money urgently, must verify your bank details, or face account suspension. Fake préfecture "appointment sellers" also charge money for free appointments that should be booked directly. The real impots.gouv.fr communicates only via your espace personnel or by post.

Fraudster calls claiming to be from your bank's fraud department, says an unauthorised transaction is being attempted, and asks you to "validate" or "cancel" it by confirming an SMS code, approving a push notification, or transferring money to a "secure account." The code or notification you confirm actually authorises their transfer.

Phone call in a tearful or distressed voice: "Maman, j'ai eu un accident…" then a fake avocat or gendarme takes over demanding an urgent cash transfer or valuables delivered to a courier to resolve a legal matter. French police NEVER request cash or valuables by phone under any circumstances.