French consumers warned to be wary of specific phone number prefixes linked to telemarketers and fraudsters, with a notable rise in reported scams in 2025.
Phone number prefixes linked to telemarketing
French consumers are being warned about specific phone number prefixes that are often used by telemarketers and potential fraudsters. Numbers starting with 01 62, 02 70, 03 78, 04 24, 05 68, 05 69, 09 48, and 09 49 are reserved for call centers of large companies under regulations set by the Arcep since January 2023. These numbers are typically used for calls related to energy, insurance, or account status updates, though not all calls from these numbers are fraudulent.Regulations on telemarketing hours
Telemarketing in France is subject to strict regulations, limiting commercial calls to specific times and days. Calls are only allowed from Monday to Friday, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. There are also monthly limits on the number of calls a consumer can receive, and calls are blocked if the recipient refuses them multiple times.Rise in reported fraudulent calls
In 2025, reports of fraudulent calls and messages on the J’alerte l’Arcep platform increased significantly, reaching over 70,000 cases—a 23% increase compared to 2024. These unwanted communications became the second most reported issue, following problems related to fiber-optic internet networks. The sharp rise is largely attributed to number spoofing, which saw a 123% increase in one year.Tools and reporting options for consumers
Consumers are encouraged to use tools like Truecaller or Vigiphone to filter spam calls, as well as the built-in call filtering features on their devices. They can also register on Bloctel, a national registry for unwanted calls, or report abuses to the number 33700. Additional platforms such as SignalConso or J’alerte l’Arcep are available for consumers to address unwarranted solicitations.
