No complete list of fake private lenders exists, because fraudsters change names every week; the ACPR and AMF blacklists help, but only a positive check in REGAFI or ORIAS proves that a professional is authorised.
What the ACPR blacklist contains
The Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR), France's banking supervisor, publishes a blacklist of websites and entities offering credit, savings accounts, payment services or insurance in France without authorisation. It is updated regularly and relayed by Assurance Banque Épargne Info Service.
Figures that show the scale of the problem
In the third quarter of 2024 alone, the ACPR added 294 new fraudulent websites to its blacklist. According to its press release, around 70 % of these new sites impersonated genuinely authorised financial institutions, with copied logos and very similar web addresses.
The AMF blacklist, a useful complement
The Autorité des marchés financiers keeps its own blacklists, covering Forex, crypto-assets and atypical investments. A lender who demands an investment before the loan often belongs on these lists, as our page on the cryptocurrency loan scam describes.
Why being absent from a list proves nothing
Blacklists are incomplete by nature: the ACPR itself states that new unauthorised sites keep appearing. A fake lender set up yesterday on Facebook or a classified ads site is not listed yet, which is why a positive check matters.
The REGAFI register for credit institutions
The REGAFI register, kept by the Banque de France, lists authorised credit institutions, finance companies and payment providers. A company claiming it will grant you credit must appear there under the same name, at the same address and with a valid licence.
ORIAS and credit intermediaries
A broker or banking intermediary must be registered with ORIAS, and the number must appear on all its documents. Look the number up yourself in the official register and compare the name, address and phone number with those of your contact.
Fake lists of trustworthy lenders
Forums and Facebook groups circulate lists of supposedly honest lenders, often written by the fraudsters themselves. Glowing testimonials point to the same WhatsApp number, a pattern explained in our report on the social media loan scam.
Why we do not publish names
Fraudsters use stolen identities, sometimes those of real notaries, lawyers or business owners. A list of names would expose innocent people and be out of date within days; it is better to learn to recognise the methods, which remain very stable.
The recurring pattern behind every fake name
Whatever the alias, the script repeats itself: a promised rate of 2 or 3 %, no creditworthiness check, then application, insurance or release fees payable by Transcash, PCS or crypto-assets. That scenario alone is enough to reject the offer.
Legal peer-to-peer lending stays occasional
In France, lending money at interest on a regular basis falls under the banking monopoly laid down in the Monetary and Financial Code. An individual may help a relative occasionally, but someone lending regularly to strangers online is operating without authorisation.
Licensed crowdlending platforms, a different world
Serious lending platforms hold a European crowdfunding service provider licence issued by the AMF. They mainly finance businesses, not individuals in financial difficulty; our guide to peer-to-peer lending websites explains these distinctions in detail.
Reporting a fake lender to feed the lists
Every report supports the authorities' work: submit the site or profile on PHAROS, call Info Escroqueries on 0 805 805 817 and pass details to the ACPR via ABE Info Service. Our page on reporting a private loan scam covers each channel.
Five checks using the official lists
- Write down the exact name, web address, phone number and IBAN given by the lender before any money changes hands.
- Search for these details in the ACPR and AMF blacklists, also trying spelling variants of the name.
- Confirm the licence positively in REGAFI or the ORIAS registration, then compare address, phone and website with your contact's.
- Contact the genuine institution using details you found yourself to ask whether the offer really comes from it.
- If doubt remains, ask ABE Info Service or Info Escroqueries before signing anything at all.
- Report any fraudulent site or profile on PHAROS, even if you have lost nothing.
Checking a lender is free, getting it wrong is costly
| Step or risk | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Checking the ACPR and AMF blacklists | Free | Available online, updated regularly |
| Searching REGAFI and ORIAS | Free | Positive confirmation of the licence |
| Calling Info Escroqueries | Free | Freephone number on weekdays |
| Fees demanded by a fake lender | Often a few hundred to several thousand euros, indicative | Paid in vouchers, crypto-assets or foreign transfers |
| Declaring a genuine loan above 5,000 euros | Free | Formulaire 2062 filed with the income tax return |
Information to gather before vetting a lender
- The full name of the person or company and its trading name
- The licence number or ORIAS registration number claimed
- The websites, social media profiles and WhatsApp numbers used
- The IBAN supplied for paying the fees, with the bank's country
- Screenshots of the advert and the messages received
- The draft contract or loan offer sent by email
Common mistakes with lender lists
- Concluding that a lender is reliable because their name is on no blacklist, when new sites are added with a delay.
- Trusting a list of honest lenders posted in a Facebook group, often fed by the fraudsters' accomplices.
- Accepting a licence number shown on a document without checking that it matches the same address and phone number.
- Taking at face value the name of a real bank or notary used in an email sent from a free webmail account.
- Paying application or insurance fees before the loan is paid out, a sign of fraud whatever name is displayed.
Questions about fake lender lists
Where can I see the official blacklist of fake credit websites?
The ACPR publishes its blacklist of unauthorised sites offering credit, savings or payments, relayed by Assurance Banque Épargne Info Service. The AMF publishes separate lists for investments and crypto-assets. Check both, then confirm the licence in REGAFI or ORIAS.
Can a private lender appear in REGAFI or ORIAS?
No, an ordinary individual helping a relative has no licence and does not need one. However, someone who lends at interest to strangers on a regular basis should be an authorised institution; absence from REGAFI signals illegal activity.
Should I trust testimonials recommending a lender?
Testimonials posted under articles, in groups or on forums are frequently written by the fraudsters themselves. They often reuse the same wording and point to a single contact. No testimonial replaces checking an official licence and a written contract.
What should I do if I find a fake lender missing from the lists?
Report the profile or website on PHAROS and call Info Escroqueries to describe how it operates. You can also pass the information to the ACPR via ABE Info Service. These reports allow new sites to be added to the blacklists and protect other borrowers.