In recent weeks, a new and deceptive phone scam has begun to spread rapidly, targeting unsuspecting individuals across France. The calls appear to originate from the United Kingdom, using phone numbers with the country code +44, but behind the scenes, it’s a cleverly disguised fraud aimed at stealing your money—and possibly your personal data.
The Modus Operandi: A Tempting Job Offer
You receive a call from what seems like a UK-based number. On the other end of the line, a friendly voice offers you an “attractive opportunity” to make money from home. These offers typically involve performing simple online tasks such as writing reviews, rating products, or watching videos. The caller assures you that you’ll be compensated for each task, promising easy money in return for minimal effort.
But there’s a catch. In order to access these tasks, you’re asked to register on a particular online platform. And before you can even begin, you’re required to pay an upfront fee—usually around €20. The supposed payment for completed tasks only comes later, once you’ve hit certain “targets.”
According to cybersecurity analyst Christophe Sicard, from France’s national cybercrime prevention platform Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, this is where the real trickery lies. “At first, it’s easy to earn 30 to 40 euros per task. But as you progress, the goals become increasingly difficult to achieve. Eventually, victims are coaxed into spending dozens of euros on tasks that are either impossible to complete or don’t exist at all,” he explained in a statement to UFC-Que Choisir, a leading French consumer advocacy group.
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A Growing Threat and an Evolving Tactic
While scams involving online tasks have existed since at least 2022, they were usually carried out through messages on SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger. Scammers would pose as recruiters offering remote job opportunities, often claiming that your resume had been “selected” for the role.
What makes this current wave of scams particularly concerning is that fraudsters are now reaching out through direct phone calls—a tactic not previously seen in these types of scams, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Cyber experts believe that this shift may be connected to recent data breaches affecting companies like Free, SFR, and Boulanger in 2024. These data leaks may have provided scammers with access to phone numbers and other personal details, making their phone calls appear more legitimate. Although the numbers seem to come from the UK, many of these calls are actually being routed through servers or centers in Asia.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
The simplest and most effective way to avoid falling for this scam is to not answer calls from unfamiliar international numbers—especially those beginning with +44 if you’re not expecting a call from the UK. If you do pick up and suspect something is off, hang up immediately and avoid engaging.
If you’ve already fallen victim to one of these scams and have sent money or provided personal information, it’s crucial to gather all possible evidence—screenshots, payment receipts, call logs, and messages. This documentation can be used to file a formal complaint with law enforcement or report the incident to anti-fraud authorities.
Consumer watchdogs are urging the public to remain vigilant. As fraudsters continue to evolve their methods, staying informed and cautious is the best defense.
This article is originally published on ladepeche.fr
