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Category: Guide
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47 articles
- "Your personal account will be closed": the fake tax-office SMS scam that rides the tax calendarEvery autumn, fake SMS messages from the DGFiP announce the closure of your personal tax account or a pending tax refund. Here's how these messages are timed to the real tax calendar, and the habits that keep you from ever clicking.11 min read
- "Your meter failed to transmit its remote reading": the fake Enedis text scam that bills you for a bogus adjustmentA text message claims your Linky meter failed to send its reading and that an adjustment payment is due. Here's how this scam works, the tell-tale signs that give it away, and the right reflexes to adopt.11 min read
- "You've won a prize, only 1 left": the fake brand prize-draw SMS scamFake prize draws, fake loyalty programmes, fake brand birthday giveaways: how the winning-SMS scam works, why the €1.95 "delivery fee" is the real trap, and how to react.11 min read
- "An Inheritance Concerns You": The Fake Heir-Search Text Message ScamA text message tells you a distant relative has left you money and that a probate genealogist is trying to reach you. A breakdown of a scam that exploits curiosity rather than fear, plus a three-minute method to check it out.11 min read
- "We attempted delivery while you were out": the text-message scam targeting holidaymakers and empty homesScammers know when you go on holiday — and tailor their fake delivery, bank or alarm texts to your absence. A breakdown of a whole season of targeted smishing, and the habits that keep you safe.10 min read
- "Unpaid Traffic Fine Notice": the fake ANTAI text message scam that makes you pay a fine that never existedA text message announces an increased fine and gives you 48 hours to pay. Here's how the fake ANTAI traffic fine scam works, why it is so effective, and how to check whether a ticket is real in three minutes.11 min read
- Booby-trapped QR codes on parking meters and EV chargers: quishing hits the streetFraudulent stickers slapped onto parking meters, pay-and-display machines and electric vehicle charging points redirect drivers to fake payment sites, then to a booby-trapped text message. How to spot a tampered QR code and what to do next.11 min read
- "Your order is subject to a product recall": the fake safety recall SMS scamA text message tells you that a device you own is being recalled and that a refund is waiting for you. A breakdown of a scam that hijacks a very real official system: RappelConso.10 min read
- "It's Dad, I've got a new number": the fake relative scam hijacking WhatsApp and SMSA text from an unknown number claims to be your child or a parent whose phone has broken. A breakdown of the fake relative scam, its 2026 variants and the reflexes that shut it down in thirty seconds.10 min read
- "Unpaid toll, plate AB-123-CD": the free-flow toll text scam on barrier-free motorwaysFree-flow motorways, with no toll barriers, have created a perfect blind spot for scammers. A breakdown of a fake unpaid-toll text message that quotes your licence plate, plus a three-minute method to check it.10 min read
- "Your CAF file has been suspended": the fake family-benefits SMS scamA text message announces that your benefits have been suspended, or asks you to "confirm your bank details" on the CAF website. Here's how this scam works, why it targets low-income households, and the reflexes that keep you out of the trap.11 min read
- "Work from home, €120 a day": the fake job scam that starts with a text messageA text from an unknown recruiter offers you an easy, well-paid job, then moves you over to WhatsApp. A breakdown of the paid-task scam, its variants and the habits that keep you safe.11 min read
- "Finalise your change of ownership": the fake ANTS text message scam after you sell your carYou've just sold or bought a vehicle and a text message is asking you to "finalise your registration document"? A breakdown of a smishing scam that exploits transfer-of-ownership declarations and ANTS procedures.11 min read
- "Your security deposit refund is blocked": the fake end-of-lease text message scamA text message claims that your security deposit refund has failed and asks for your bank details. A breakdown of a scam that hits tenants at the worst possible moment, and the reflexes that stop you losing 1,200 euros.12 min read
- "Never share this code": how scammers get you to read out your verification code over the phoneOne-time codes sent by SMS are the last barrier before your accounts are stolen. Scammers have industrialised the harvesting of these codes with "OTP bots". Here's how the scam works — and how to resist it.11 min read
- "I've Already Paid, Just Confirm the Delivery": The Fake Buyer Scam on Classified Ad SitesYou're selling a second-hand item and an impatient buyer sends you a text message with a link to "confirm receipt of payment." A full breakdown of the fake buyer scam, the warning signs, and what to do if you've already clicked.12 min read
- "The Flat's Still Available": The Fake-Landlord Scam That Plays Out Over TextNo viewing possible, a deposit demanded upfront, the conversation moving to text messages: a breakdown of the fake rental listing scam and the reflexes that will stop you handing a single cent to a fraudster.12 min read
- "Your phone is infected": the fake tech support scam that starts with a text messageA text message claims your smartphone is infected with a virus and urges you to call a support hotline. A breakdown of a fake tech support scam that uses the phone, not a link, to trap its victims.10 min read
- SMS Blaster: the fake mobile mast hidden in a car boot that showers the street with scam textsAn SMS Blaster is a rogue transmitter that impersonates a cell tower and pushes fraudulent text messages to every phone within a few hundred metres, without ever touching a mobile operator. How it works, why anti-spam filters never see it, and how to protect yourself.11 min read
- Fake SMS from Your Mobile Carrier: When "Your Plan Has Been Suspended" Is Really a Bid to Steal Your LineFake text messages impersonating Orange, SFR, Bouygues or Free promise an overdue-bill fix or a loyalty gift. Here's how a scam that targets far more than your bank card actually works — what it really wants is your mobile line itself.10 min read
- "You Have a Refund Waiting": The Fake Reimbursement Scam That Makes You Pay to Get PaidTax office, family benefits, social security, energy bills: the fake refund text message has become fraudsters' most effective bait. A breakdown of how it works, the warning signs, and the habits that protect your account.11 min read
- Fake notary and funeral insurance texts: the scam that targets grieving familiesAfter a death, relatives sometimes receive text messages posing as a notary, a funeral insurance provider or a pension fund. Understanding why this scam works so well, and how to protect a family in mourning.10 min read
- Fake IT Department Texts: The Scam Targeting Remote WorkersA text message signed "IT Support" asks you to reset your password or approve a login: a breakdown of corporate smishing, MFA fatigue, and the reflexes to adopt when working from home.10 min read
- Scam texts and visual impairment: why a screen reader can't see the fraudBlind and partially sighted people receive the same fraudulent text messages as everyone else, but without the visual cues that give the scam away. How to adapt your vigilance reflexes when you navigate by voice or in very large print.11 min read
- Fake "Banque de France blacklisting" texts: the scam that preys on financial shameText messages claim you've been registered with the Banque de France (FICP, FCC) and urge you to settle up immediately. A full breakdown of this scam, the Banque de France's real communication channels, and the reflexes that keep you from paying.10 min read
- RCS, the next-generation SMS: what this standard really changes for scamsRCS is gradually replacing SMS on Android phones and iPhones. Verified logos, encryption, rich messages: what this standard actually protects, and the new doors it opens for scammers.11 min read
- "Your father has had a fall": the fake texts targeting people who care for elderly relativesScammers are now targeting family carers with fake texts from care homes, community nurses or hospital emergency departments. A breakdown of a scam that exploits the most universal fear of all: that a parent is in danger.11 min read
- Fake Sports Club and Federation SMS: When Your Hobbies Become a TrapDiscover how scammers use your passion for sports and club memberships to steal your banking details through smishing.6 min read
- "Your adviser will call you back": anatomy of the fake bank transfer scamA text message warns of a suspicious transfer, then the phone rings: a fake bank adviser walks you through "securing" your money. A full breakdown of the fake-adviser scam and the reflexes that defeat it.12 min read
- The Hyper-Personalized SMS Scam: When Scammers Know Your AddressDiscover how smishing is evolving toward hyper-personalization, using your public data to trap you with frightening precision.6 min read
- Fake school texts: canteen fees, supplies and field trips — the back-to-school trap for parentsEvery September, a wave of fake text messages impersonates schools, town halls and canteen services to extract parents' bank details. A breakdown of the scenarios and the reflexes that stop the scam cold.11 min read
- Fake health insurance and Vitale card texts: the health scam that thrives at the start of the school yearEvery autumn, a wave of text messages supposedly sent by France's Assurance Maladie or your top-up health insurer demands that you "update" your Vitale card. Here's how the scam works and the practical habits that keep you safe.11 min read
- "You Have a New Voicemail": The Fake Voicemail Scam That Drains Bank AccountsA text message announces a waiting voicemail, a link to tap, an app to install. A breakdown of a low-key scam that turns your voicemail into a Trojan horse — and the habits that keep you from ever falling for it.10 min read
- Quishing: When a Simple QR Code Stuck on a Parking Meter Replaces the Booby-Trapped Text MessageScammers are ditching the clickable link in favour of the QR code: stickers on parking meters, EV charging points, fake letters. Understanding quishing and adopting the right reflexes before you scan.11 min read
- Wangiri and premium-rate numbers: the scam that charges you for a simple call backA one-second call, a text asking you to ring back an unknown number: the Wangiri scam and premium-rate numbers drain your phone plan without ever asking for your bank details. How it works, and how to defend yourself.10 min read
- Fake charity donation texts: when generosity becomes a way inAfter every disaster or during fundraising season, fake charity text messages circulate in France. Here's how they work, why they succeed, and how to check before you give.10 min read
- Fake fine by text message: how ANTAI became scammers' favourite disguiseFake traffic tickets, fake parking charges, fake toll fees: a full breakdown of the SMS fine scam and the reflexes to adopt before paying anything.10 min read
- First phone: getting a teenager ready for scam texts before you hand it overGiving a child their first smartphone also opens the door to fraudulent texts, fake prizes and digital blackmail. A practical guide to preparing them, without intrusive surveillance.11 min read
- Holiday text message scams: fake rental, toll and boarding pass alertsCancelled rental, unpaid toll, delayed flight: when you're travelling, fake text messages exploit your lowered guard. A breakdown of the seasonal scenarios and the habits that genuinely protect you.11 min read
- Phone stolen or lost: the reflexes that stop your number from becoming a weaponA lost or stolen smartphone isn't just one device short: it's your SIM card, your verification codes and your mobile identity in a stranger's hands. Here's what to do, hour by hour.11 min read
- I Clicked a Link in a Scam Text: The 10 Emergency Steps to Take Within the HourYou clicked the link in a fraudulent text message — or worse, entered your bank details? Here is the hour-by-hour response protocol: cut off, secure, report.11 min read
- Protecting Seniors from SMS Scams: A Guide to Vigilance and SupportLearn how to protect your parents and grandparents from the new waves of smishing and mobile identity theft in 2026.5 min read
- Protecting Yourself from Smishing in 2026: A Comprehensive Guide to New Cyber ThreatsDiscover how to identify and counter sophisticated smishing tactics in 2026 to protect your personal and banking data.5 min read
- Smishing and SMS Scams in 2026: How to Recognize and Counter New ThreatsSmishing is evolving: discover the latest SMS scam techniques and the essential habits to protect your data and your money.6 min read
- GuideHow to send a free SMS online, step by stepThe practical guide to sending a free SMS to a French mobile: no sign-up, no app, no advertising. The form, the 06/07 number, the message, the confirmation.2 min read
- GuideSending a free SMS online: the complete guideHow sending a free SMS to a French mobile works: no sign-up, no ads, no limits. Honest advantages and limitations.2 min read
- Guide160 characters: writing an effective SMS for a free sendThe 160-character limit forces you to get to the point. Our tips for writing a clear message and sending it for free in a few seconds.2 min read
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