To verify a private lender, check its authorisation in the REGAFI register, or with the AMF for a platform, search its name in the official blacklists and refuse any fee payment before receiving the funds.
The banking monopoly restricts lending as a regular business
In France, the Monetary and Financial Code reserves regular lending to institutions authorised by the ACPR, the banking supervisor. An individual may occasionally lend to a relative, but anyone offering loans to all comers online is acting illegally.
Searching the ACPR's REGAFI register
The REGAFI register lists the banks, credit institutions and finance companies authorised to operate in France. Search for the exact name, then compare the head office address with the one your contact gave; a merely similar name proves nothing.
The ORIAS register for credit brokers
A credit broker must be registered with ORIAS as an intermediary in banking operations and payment services. The number shown on a website can be checked in the register; make sure the company name, SIREN number and address all match.
Crowdlending platforms and the European licence
Since the transition period of European regulation 2020/1503 ended, crowdfunding platforms must be licensed as crowdfunding service providers, known as PSFP, a licence granted by the AMF in France. See our peer-to-peer loan websites.
Doubtful names: reading the official warnings
The AMF and the ACPR publish lists of unauthorised firms offering loans, savings accounts or investments. A name missing from those lists is not reliable for all that: fraudsters change their name and website very often, sometimes within just a few days.
A real private lender charges nothing upfront
A genuine private lender, often a relative or friend, asks for no application fees, insurance or notary charges before paying out. Anyone demanding an upfront payment, however small, is following the classic pattern of the advance fee loan scam.
Fake proof of funds and bank certificates
To reassure you, the fraudster sends an edited statement, a certificate of a blocked transfer or a so-called SWIFT certificate. Such documents are easy to forge; our page on fake proof of funds shows the inconsistencies that give them away.
Checking the company's SIREN number and address
A French company can be checked in the Insee Sirene database or the national business register. Make sure the SIREN exists, that the declared activity concerns lending and that the address is not a mailbox service shared by dozens of other companies.
Messaging apps and contact channels that should worry you
A lender who only communicates through WhatsApp, Telegram or Messenger, uses free email and refuses any meeting or video call wants to stay untraceable. An authorised institution has an identifiable customer service and email addresses on its own domain name.
Examining the payee's IBAN before paying
If the IBAN starts with a country code different from the company's, or belongs to someone unrelated to the announced lender, refuse. Since October 2025, verification of payee in the euro area compares the name entered with the real account holder.
Rock-bottom rates and approval within 24 hours
A rate of 2 or 3 % with no conditions, granted without any creditworthiness check to someone on the FICP register of repayment incidents, matches no serious practice. An authorised institution checks income and debt, as the Consumer Code requires.
Getting an outside opinion before committing
If in doubt, Assurance Banque Épargne Info Service, the joint public helpline of the ACPR and the AMF, answers individuals. A consumer association or notary can also examine the offer; our page to report a loan scam describes the steps.
Vetting a lender in six checks
- Write down the exact name, address, SIREN and authorisation or ORIAS number given by the lender.
- Look up the institution in REGAFI, the broker in the ORIAS register or the platform in the AMF list of licensed providers.
- Check the AMF and ACPR blacklists and search the name followed by the word scam in a search engine.
- Compare the official details in the register with the website, phone number and email address being used.
- Refuse any upfront payment or sharing of codes, and insist on a written contract before the funds are paid.
- Have the offer reviewed by a notary, a lawyer or a consumer association before signing.
Real loan costs versus warning signs
| Item | Serious lender | Fake lender |
|---|---|---|
| Application fees | None between individuals, deducted from the loan at an authorised institution | Demanded upfront, often by voucher or transfer |
| Interest rate | Below the Banque de France quarterly usury threshold | Abnormally low to lure you in |
| Licensed platform commission | Set out in the contract and displayed (indicative) | Invented and payable before the money arrives |
| Notary fees | Paid to the identified notary at signing | Requested by a fake notary abroad |
| Borrower insurance | Offered with a written contract | Fictitious release insurance |
Information to obtain from the lender
- Exact company name and legal form
- SIREN number and head office address
- REGAFI, ORIAS or PSFP authorisation number
- Written loan offer with rate and schedule
- Identity and position of the signatory
- Lender's IBAN in the name of the announced company
Red flags that should stop you in your tracks
- A real ORIAS number but contact details different from those in the register: the sign of a cloned existing firm.
- An offer found on Facebook, Leboncoin or a forum, presented as approved without any review of your file.
- A request for payment by prepaid card, cryptocurrency or money transfer before the funds are released.
- A lender who insists on urgency, threatens to cancel the offer or refuses any video call.
- A bank certificate or SWIFT certificate sent unprompted to prove that the funds are available.
Recognising a trustworthy lender: common questions
Does a private individual need a licence to lend me money?
Not for a one-off loan, for instance between relatives. However, offering credit to the public on a regular basis falls under the banking monopoly and requires authorisation. Someone canvassing strangers to lend them money therefore cannot be an ordinary individual.
Is a displayed ORIAS number enough to prove a lender is genuine?
No. Fraudsters often reuse the number of a real broker. Check in the register that the name, address and website match, then contact the firm through its official details to confirm it actually issued the offer.
What should I make of positive reviews about the lender?
Glowing testimonials on forums, Facebook groups or videos may be written by the fraudsters themselves. Reviews never replace checking REGAFI, ORIAS, the AMF list and the official blacklists.
Is a peer-to-peer loan platform necessarily safe?
At the very least it must be licensed by the AMF as a crowdfunding service provider. Even when licensed, it carries a risk of borrower default for lenders. Read the terms, fees and handling of late payments before committing money.