Multiplication of SMS scams: above all, do not respond

Be careful, phone texting scams are increasing at the moment. For example this message on Whatsapp: “Mom, I broke my phone, send me a text to this number”. Fanny Guinochet’s advice to avoid being trapped.

You may have received this SMS: “Mom, I broke my phone, text me to this number”, believing it was that of one of your children. Fanny Guinochet tells us to be careful, and gives us her advice not to let ourselves be trapped.

franceinfo: In fact, is this a scam, and can we lose a lot of money?

Fanny Guinochet: Yes, according to the authorities, several people have been trapped in recent weeks. People who, believing their children were in difficulty, responded to text messages and paid money, sometimes even large sums.

In fact, these are scammers who got your phone number on the Internet, or on social networks, on a classified ads site like Le Bon coin, it’s very easy, and they got in touch with They then collect your bank details and extract money from you.

And if this happens to you, what should you do?

So if you receive this type of message, check by calling your child on their usual number. But above all, don’t respond to text messages. Then, if you have been caught, contact your bank quickly to try to block the transfers as quickly as possible.

If you have given your credit card codes, object immediately, and keep the evidence, the exchanges by messages, to be able to file a complaint. This is important in trying to get compensation. It will depend on your banking contract. But more and more establishments are trying to make a gesture of reparation. Finally, report the fraudulent message on the 33 700 platform or by SMS, it is a free service which allows public services to trace the channels.

More generally, how can we avoid these scams, is it possible?

Several little tips: never give in to pressing requests supposedly sent by loved ones, requests like: “I had an accident, contact me, help me”. And then at the moment, there are a lot of scams involving receiving SMS messages that look perfectly real, for example, a text message saying that you haven’t paid a fine or that your Vitale card needs to be updated. up to date. You respond in good faith. And then someone calls you from behind.

The scammer pretends to be an agent, a person from Health Insurance who wants you well and who, over the course of the discussion, will seemingly ask you for your banking information, your credit card codes, that’s how you get trapped.

Also get into the habit of regularly checking your bank accounts, alerting them as soon as there are unknown transactions. Be particularly vigilant if you have been abroad recently. Finally, know that faced with the number of scams, you can be advised in all these steps. The Ministry of the Interior has set up a free “Info Scams” ​​platform, with a number:
0 805 805 817Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.