Fraud prevention services are receiving increasing numbers of complaints about scams involving energy renovation schemes for buildings, particularly through identity theft.
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Attached to the Ministry of the Economy, the General Directorate for Competition and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) is facing an increase in complaints from customers using energy renovation systems for their homes or businesses. While some 10,000 reports were received in 2022, there were 23,000 last year. And between January and September 2024, anti-fraud services have already reported 30,000 reports, according to a report announced on Wednesday, September 18. Since 2020, the year the Ma Prime Renov’ public aid was introduced, complaints have only increased. But they need to be answered: for the year 2023, the DGCCRF has inspected nearly 800 companies, craftsmen and SMEs.
The administration is particularly attentive to identity theft, which constitutes a large part of fraud. For the scammer, who can be an individual or a company, all it takes is information on a person’s identity and a quote for work to launch a request for assistance with energy renovation. So beware of requests for personal or tax information, by telephone or online.
While the National Housing Agency, which studies the files, is increasingly vigilant, consumers must be extra vigilant about online simulators that fuel a large part of the fraud. These price and service simulators on the internet are an ideal gateway for scammers. So be careful not to give your personal and tax information to just any site or to the first canvasser that comes along. Especially since canvassing on the internet or by telephone is strictly prohibited. However, this canvassing represents 80% of the fraud reports received by the services of the Ministry of the Economy.
For both individuals and professionals, sanctions range from warnings to criminal prosecution. They are particularly severe when it is proven that the consumer has been seriously defrauded. Sentences of up to four years in prison were recently handed down by the courts for 15 professionals prosecuted for renovation work fraud. They had made more than 200 victims among customer households.