French police face rising phone scams

Law enforcement agencies in France are dealing with an increase in telephone scams designed to extract information from police files, as revealed by internal documents and telegrams shared with BFMTV on Monday, November 2.

Scammers mimic police identities

The scams involve individuals who falsify data, such as the number from which they call their victims, to impersonate law enforcement and obtain personal information. These fraudulent calls have targeted gendarmes and prompted the French government to issue warnings.

Officials warn of the threat

Internal documents obtained by BFMTV show that Louis Laugier, director general of the national police, and Laurent Nuñez, the interior minister, have alerted officials and military personnel to the risk. Territorial services of the national police have noted a recent rise in these malicious calls.

Fraudsters use advanced techniques

The perpetrators of these scams use equipment that allows them to display a desired number on a police station's phone. They understand the language and operations of the institution and are not afraid to create realistic scenarios, such as pretending to have technical issues with their own terminals.

Scams can harm police and the public

The stolen information can be used to pressure individuals listed in police files or to mock or deceive the police, including uploading phone conversations to sites like YouTube. The documents also note that this technique is sometimes used to "release" vehicles that are banned from driving due to infractions.

Counter-call technique recommended

To prevent such scams, a "counter-call" technique is advised. For example, if a police officer receives a call from a number that appears to be from a neighboring gendarmerie, they can call back the displayed number to verify the identity of the caller. This method helps expose the scam, as scammers cannot receive calls on the number they display.

Precautionary measures for officers

In response to the rise in scams, documents remind police officers and gendarmes to use internal law enforcement networks, such as radio, to request information and to verify the authenticity of requests. The "counter-call" technique is emphasized as a key precaution.

Technique applicable to all

The "counter-call" method is not limited to law enforcement and can be used by the general public to avoid scams. Scammers can display a false number when calling, but they cannot receive calls on that number, ensuring the real person associated with the number will answer when called back.